The Right to Choose Psychiatry uk

As a patient you have a legal right to choose the location you will receive treatment. This applies to consult-led elective treatment, as well as services commissioned by CCGs or NHS England.

Psychiatry UK offers ADHD, Autism, and combined assessments as part of the NHS Right to Choice pathway. This enables individuals who are on long NHS waiting lists to exercise their right to choose a provider and reduce their waiting time for an assessment.

What is the right thing to choose?

The right to choose psychiatry UK is a crucial legal right that allows patients to decide on their health care. This is the case for many services that include assessments and treatment. When a person is assessed for a condition like ADHD they may choose to be referred to another NHS service provider than their local area. This could be beneficial for a number of reasons, including travel restrictions or if they wish to see someone who specialises in their particular condition.

The legal right to choice is currently in effect at the time of referral by a primary care doctor to make the first appointment with an outpatient for a mental or physical health condition. This only applies to those who are medically appropriate and have a commissioning contract with the CCG or NHS England (host commissioner) for that service.

If a person is referred by their local NHS Trust to receive an ADHD diagnosis, they will likely be directed to a local mental health facility. The wait time for a first appointment can be as long as 2 years. However, if the person has the right to choose they can choose to be sent to an online ADHD diagnosis service such as Psychiatry-UK that can provide a quicker route to diagnosis.

This is a thrilling change that will improve access to mental healthcare in the UK particularly as it is often an extended wait for an initial assessment, and then for treatment. There are a variety of obstacles to improving access to psychiatry services and the delivery of services in the UK. There is a shortage of consultants and an effort to increase recruitment.

If a GP wishes to refer a patient to the Psychiatry-UK for an online ADHD assessment in accordance with the legal right to choice they must write a short letter in which they explain the reason. The letter should be addressed directly to Psychiatry UK and include the name of the doctor at the end of the page (not ANP). The letter should also include an uncomplicated medical description of the patient as well as the completed AQ50 form (click for the template). The Psychiatry-UK team will then contact the patient's GP for more information.

Who is eligible to make a choice?

In England If your GP has referred you to a team of consultants led by mental health professionals for assessment or treatment You may be eligible to be eligible for Right to Choose. This includes the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders for ADHD or Autism. It does not include other NHS services - like psychotherapy, counselling or psychiatric medication. You also cannot be a member of the Armed Forces, be detained under the Mental Health Act or be in a secure setting (including prisons, courts and certain secure training centres and youth offenders' institutions, or immigration removal centres).

You must have been referred to the provider of NHS services by your doctor in order to exercise this right. The service you receive must be clinically appropriate for your needs. Psychiatry UK offers ADHD assessments to adults and children who are under the age of 19 via Right to Choose. These appointments are conducted in person. If you prefer to make an online appointment, they are able to provide a private ADHD evaluation for adults and children. They also offer titration of medication after an assessment. However, this service is not accessible via RTC.

It is essential to inform your GP that you wish to exercise your right to choose. You can download a referral form from most Right to Choose providers and present it to your GP. This letter will provide the information needed to submit an appointment. Click here to download a copy of the template from Psychiatry UK.

How do I exercise my right to decide?

If your GP recommends you for specific mental health care you have a legal right to select the healthcare provider. Your choice will not cost the NHS any more than if you were referred to an NHS hospital. You are entitled to choose a service or provider with an NHS Standard Contract with any CCG, NHS England or any CCG for the service required (this includes a variety of hospitals). You cannot make use of your right to gain quicker access to cancer treatments that are subject to a two-week maximum waiting time and maternity services as well as mental health services provided by the armed forces.

In a study of prospective psychiatrists, conducted one, three, and five years after medical school, 4% of respondents chose psychiatry for their first choice of career. When compared to private psychiatry uk who gave other clinical professions as their first choice the figure was comparable to the figures of 3-4 percent of those who chose psychiatry as a specialty in the USA. The numbers were higher for women than men. This is consistent with a long-standing trend in which more women opt to become psychiatrists.

The choice of psychiatrists to pursue the field of psychiatry is influenced by a variety of factors. Of these, 'enthusiasm/commitment: what I really want to do' was the factor rated as having most influence by over half of respondents in year one. 'Student experience of the subject','self-appraisal of own skills' and 'inclinations before medical school' were also cited as having a significant effect on choice.

For those who suffer from ADHD, their GP can use the NHS's Right To Choose to refer them for an independent assessment with Psychiatry-UK. This will result in an assessment and titration of medications being provided by an experienced ADHD specialist. The GPs can find more information, including the letter they can provide to their patients.


For other conditions, such as OCD, you are able to exercise your Right To Choice if your GP has recommended an assessment by an expert mental health professional and you have been discharged from the service. Your GP may request an appointment from the specialist mental health care service to Psychiatry UK, and we can then provide an independent assessment and titration of any medication prescribed.

What if I don't want to exercise my choice?

You do not have to make a decision in the event that you decide not to. If you decide to exercise your right to choose, you should understand the implications. If you choose not to exercise this right it could affect how quickly you are able to schedule an appointment, as well as the service you receive. It will also affect your choices in the future should you be referred back.

It is important to tell your GP immediately if you decide not to take advantage of this right. They should then direct you to a clinic that's the best fit for your needs. It might take a bit longer to make an appointment, but if it is the proper thing to do it's worth it.

You can ask your GP whether Psychiatry UK offers an online ADHD assessment. The website offers details on how you can conduct this assessment as well as an assessment letter you can download to give to your GP. The service is available to adults and children. However, they do not offer prescription titrations through the NHS following an assessment. They are currently able to provide an assessment in Kent and Medway, Isle of Wight, and North East Hampshire.

Psychiatry-UK is a not-for-profit organisation which offers no-cost, confidential, e-consultations with psychiatrists who are qualified. These consultations are conducted over the internet and can be booked through an online booking system that is secure. The appointments are recorded in an electronic medical database and utilized by a group of specially trained by a team of clinicians to monitor patient health. The clinicians are also overseen by senior members of the mental health profession who ensure that the services are provided to the highest standards.

The authors would like to thank the nine participants who participated in the one-to-one semi-structured interviews for their time and energy. They were recruited from diverse backgrounds and at different stages of their training beginning in the second year of BSMS to having just completed their fifth year of medical school. They were interviewed via videoconference or email and asked to talk about their experiences when selecting a career as a psychiatrist.