★ The NHS ADHD Fast Track

44. The Fast Track: GP letter generator

Most GPs won't tell you this exists. In England, you may be able to ask for referral to an NHS-contracted provider under Right to Choose. Below is a letter to help you ask for a faster NHS-funded ADHD referral. Fill in seven boxes and hand it to your GP. If the referral goes ahead, the assessment is free.

Eligibility and waiting times vary by area, and some ICBs (the NHS bodies that fund local services) have paused or capped Right to Choose referrals. Check your area on the ADHD UK website before you go.

2+ yrsTypical NHS wait

VariesWith the Fast Track

£0Cost to you

60 secTo generate

What's changed in 2025–26.

In 2026, many ICBs agreed Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) with Right to Choose providers. These limit how many assessments each provider is funded to carry out in a year, so some providers may pause new referrals or appointments. Right to Choose still exists, but availability varies by area and provider. Ask your GP, or check ADHD UK, for the latest in your area. Last checked September 2026. The Fast Track letter below can still help you ask for a referral, but in some areas your GP may reply with "we've been told to pause new referrals". If that happens, it is usually because of local funding arrangements rather than your GP's own choice.

What to do if you hit a pause. Ask the GP to explain the decision in writing. Report the refusal to ADHD UK (adhduk.co.uk), who collect these reports and are using these reports to push for policy change. Then come back to the Before-Private page in this playbook for the things you can do meanwhile.

Step 1 · You

Your full nameDate of birth

NHS number (10 digits)Address (optional)

Don't know your NHS number? Login to the NHS App or call your GP. You can submit without it but it speeds things up.

Step 2 · Your GP

GP's surnameChoose your provider

One of the largest Right to Choose providers. Waits vary, check current availability. All providers shown hold NHS Right to Choose contracts as of 2025.

Step 3 · The impact

Three short sentences about how ADHD shows up in your day-to-day. Be specific, this is what GPs read closely. Examples: "I've been disciplined twice at work for missing deadlines." "I struggle to keep up with bills and admin." "I've been treated for anxiety since my twenties but it never quite went away."

Impact 1 · work or focusImpact 2 · home or relationshipsImpact 3 · mental health or wellbeing

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29 September 2026

Dear Dr [Your GP's name],

Subject: Formal request for an adult ADHD assessment referral under Patient Choice (Right to Choose)

I am writing to formally request a referral for an adult ADHD assessment under the NHS Patient Choice framework, also known as "Right to Choose".

I understand that under the NHS Choice Framework in England, patients may be able to choose a provider that holds an NHS contract for the service they need. I would like to exercise that right and be referred to Psychiatry UK, who hold a relevant NHS contract for adult ADHD assessment.

I am requesting this referral because I am experiencing significant ongoing difficulties consistent with ADHD. In particular:

1. [How ADHD affects your work or daily focus]

2. [How ADHD affects your home or relationships]

3. [How ADHD affects your mental health or wellbeing]

I have completed the World Health Organisation's Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), which is the screener recommended by NICE for use in primary care. My results are attached to this letter, along with a short personal summary of impact.

I understand that, where a provider holds an NHS standard contract with any Integrated Care Board (ICB) or with NHS England, you are able to make a Right to Choose referral and the funding follows the patient. I am asking, kindly but formally, that you process this referral as soon as possible.

If for any reason you feel unable to refer me to Psychiatry UK, I would be grateful if you could write to me explaining the specific clinical or contractual reason, so that I understand the next steps.

Thank you for your time and care.

Kind regards,

[Your full name]
Date of birth: [Your date of birth]
NHS number: [Your NHS number]

Quick questions before you send

Will my GP do this?

Many GPs will consider it. Local arrangements vary. If your GP refuses outright, ask politely for the refusal in writing and forward that letter to your local ICB. r/ADHDUK maintains a community list of surgeries that have refused, and some people choose to register with a different practice. Policies vary, so ask before you move.

Is this only for England?

For now, yes. Patient Choice / Right to Choose is an NHS England policy, so Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different routes (the previous page covers each of them). If you live in England but happen to be registered with a GP elsewhere, it can sometimes still apply, so it is worth asking.

What happens after the referral?

Your chosen provider tends to write to you within four to six weeks for a short phone or video screening, and then books in your full assessment. Waits run somewhere between three and eight months in practice. Diagnosis and titration are free at that point, with prescriptions at the standard NHS charge (free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), or covered by a prepayment certificate.

Does my data stay private?

Yes, completely. Everything you type stays inside your own browser, and we do not store, send or even see any of it. If you refresh the page it is gone, so please save your letter somewhere safe before you close the tab.

One important thing. This letter is a starting point, not legal advice. Right to Choose policy can shift, and individual ICBs sometimes push back. If you hit a wall, ADHD UK has a free template-letter helpline and a list of currently-cooperating GP surgeries by region. We are not affiliated with them.

NHS services, provider availability, waiting times and local arrangements change. Check current information with your GP, the provider or GOV.UK. Last checked September 2026.

Written by Rich, who has ADHD. This guide is information, not medical advice. How this guide is written · Need help now?