What is Right to Choose and how does it work?
It’s not always clear what routes are open to parents or carers who are considering an autism assessment for their child. Waiting lists vary dramatically across the country and there are different pathways depending on where you live. However, there is one service that is available to most people who are registered with a GP practice in England. It’s called Right to Choose and it’s a really helpful option for many families.
What is it?
Right to Choose allows people greater control over their healthcare. If a GP needs to refer you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you’d like to go to. This includes assessment for autism. The aim is to give you more autonomy over your care and is particularly helpful in situations where NHS waiting times are excessively long. There are some exceptions, for example, patients can’t opt for Right to Choose if they are accessing emergency or crisis care.
What provider can you ask for?
When you ask your GP for a referral for an assessment, you can choose the provider yourself but they must hold a qualifying NHS contract or be commissioned by the NHS. They might be an NHS organisation or an independent provider. Not all private or independent providers are eligible under Right to Choose so you need to check this and make sure they are accepting referrals.
Steps to take for Right to Choose
Speak to your GP – Request a referral for an autism or ADHD assessment. You may need to explain that you want to use your Right to Choose to select an alternative provider.
Choose an approved provider – Do your research to check that they are an approved Right to Choose provider. Their website should make this clear.
Request a referral – Your GP should complete the referral process directly to the provider of your choice.
Follow up – After the referral is made, contact the provider to confirm receipt and ask about the next steps, including expected waiting times.
What’s the advantage of Right to Choose?
The main benefit is the potential reduction in waiting times. NHS waiting lists for autism assessments can stretch to several years in some areas. By contrast, Right to Choose providers often offer assessments within months.
To sum up
Right to Choose can really help families and it’s available to most people in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland adopt a different system. It can dramatically shorten waiting times and allows you to have a say in the care you receive. Speak to your GP to get the ball rolling.
Find out more about Right to Choose on the NHS website. For more information on how to request an autism assessment, visit the National Autistic Society website.