Neurodivergence, ADHD and Autism (ASD)

Introduction 

If you think that you or your child may have ADHD, autism (ASD), or both, there are different routes available for assessment.

We know that understanding the options can be confusing. This page explains what you need to do, what happens after you contact us, and the important differences

Step 1 – Contact us

To request an ADHD or autism assessment, please submit an online consultation.

Choose:

Medical Consultation Requests → New Condition → Mental/Emotional Health Issues

You can also discuss a possible referral with a clinician during an existing appointment.

For a child or young person, a parent or carer can submit the request on their behalf.

An ADHD or autism referral requires a clinical review before it can be sent.

A clinician may consider:

• the difficulties or traits you are experiencing
• how these affect everyday life, work, education, relationships or home life
• childhood or developmental history
• physical and mental health
• any other conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms
• any current safety or safeguarding concerns.

For children and young people, we may also need information from a parent/carer, school or other education setting.

Sometimes we may need to contact you for further information before we can make a referral.

A request for assessment does not automatically mean that a referral will be accepted. The clinician must first decide that a specialist assessment is clinically appropriate, and the receiving service will also apply its own referral criteria.

There are three main options.

Option 1 – Local NHS assessment

We can refer you or your child to the locally commissioned NHS service where the referral criteria are met.

The service will review the referral and decide whether it can be accepted.

Waiting times vary and are determined by the receiving NHS service - they are currently sitting at 'years'.

If ADHD medication is recommended

If you are diagnosed with ADHD through a local NHS service, the specialist would normally start treatment and adjust the medication until it is stable.

Pathfields may then consider taking over some prescribing under an approved shared-care agreement.

This can only happen where:

• treatment has been started by the specialist
• your medication and dose are stable
• the specialist remains involved in your care
• appropriate monitoring arrangements are in place
• Pathfields receives an acceptable shared-care agreement
• the GP agrees that it is clinically appropriate to accept shared care.

Shared care is therefore not automatic.

Option 2 – NHS Right to Choose

In England, eligible patients may have the right to choose another NHS-funded provider for an ADHD or autism assessment.

This is known as NHS Right to Choose (RTC).

Although some Right to Choose providers are independent organisations, your assessment is funded by the NHS when you are referred through the NHS Right to Choose pathway.

You need to choose your provider 

If you want to use Right to Choose, you will need to research the available providers and tell us which provider you would like to be referred to.

Different providers:

• assess different age groups
• may assess ADHD, autism or both
• have different eligibility criteria
• have different waiting times
• may provide online or face-to-face assessments
• offer different arrangements for treatment and follow-up.

Please check that the provider you select accepts NHS Right to Choose referrals for your age group and the assessment you require. Right to Choose Providers

Pathfields cannot choose a Right to Choose provider on your behalf.

Once you have chosen your provider, tell us its name when submitting your request or talking to your GP.

You do not need to obtain lots of different GP referral forms

Pathfields uses a standard ADHD and autism Right to Choose referral form.

We will provide the relevant clinical information to your chosen provider using our referral process.

If the provider requires information directly from you, such as questionnaires or forms for a parent, carer or school, you may still need to complete these separately.

Important – ADHD medication through Right to Choose

Before choosing a Right to Choose provider, please consider how any future ADHD medication will be managed.

Pathfields does not enter into shared-care prescribing arrangements with Right to Choose providers.

If your Right to Choose provider diagnoses ADHD and recommends medication, that provider must remain responsible for:

• prescribing your ADHD medication
• starting and adjusting medication
• physical monitoring required for treatment
• medication reviews
• managing side effects
• ongoing specialist follow-up.

Please check that your chosen provider offers the treatment and follow-up care you may need before asking us to make the referral.

Option 3 – Private or self-funded assessment

You are free to arrange a private ADHD or autism assessment independently.

However, this is different from NHS Right to Choose.

Pathfields does not make referrals to wholly private/self-funded providers.

If you choose private care, you should contact and arrange this directly with the provider.

Important – private ADHD medication

Pathfields will not take over:

• private ADHD prescribing
• medication titration
• monitoring required for private ADHD treatment
• investigations requested solely to support private ADHD prescribing.

The private provider will remain responsible for your treatment, prescriptions, monitoring and associated private costs.

Having a private diagnosis does not automatically transfer your care or medication to the NHS.

You can still ask us to consider a separate referral to the local NHS service, but normal NHS referral criteria and waiting times will apply.

This depends on your diagnosis and the service you have chosen.

If you are diagnosed with autism

The assessing service should explain the outcome of your assessment and any recommendations.

A diagnosis is not required to access many types of practical, wellbeing and neurodiversity support.

Neurodivergence  ADHD and Autism (ASD) Support and Wellbeing Pack

If you are diagnosed with ADHD

The arrangements depend on your referral route:

Local NHS service:
Shared care may be considered once treatment has been started and stabilised by the specialist and an acceptable shared-care agreement is in place.

NHS Right to Choose provider:
The Right to Choose provider remains responsible for ADHD prescribing, monitoring and specialist review. Pathfields will not enter into shared care.

Private/self-funded provider:
The private provider remains responsible for ADHD prescribing, monitoring and treatment. Pathfields will not take over private prescribing or shared care.

What if I would like assessment for both ADHD and autism?

Please tell us if you are requesting assessment for both ADHD and autism.

We will consider both as part of the initial review.

Depending on the service or Right to Choose provider you select, the assessments may be completed by the same organisation or may require separate referral pathways.

You do not need to wait for a diagnosis before seeking support.

There are services and resources that can help with areas such as:

• organisation and routines
• emotional regulation
• sensory needs
• sleep
• anxiety and wellbeing
• education and employment
• parenting and family support
• social and communication needs.

Visit our ADHD and Autism Support and Wellbeing page for local and national support. 

Neurodivergence  ADHD and Autism (ASD) Support and Wellbeing Pack

An ADHD or autism assessment referral is not an urgent mental health service.

If you or your child is experiencing a significant deterioration in mental health, a safeguarding concern, or an immediate risk of harm, please seek appropriate urgent help via 999 rather than waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment.

1. Submit an online consultation Start Online Consultation
2. Tell us whether you are requesting ADHD, autism, or both
3. If requesting Right to Choose, tell us the name of your chosen provider