We are receiving increasing numbers of requests for adult ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder assessments, particularly for referrals to Psychiatry Right to Choose.

There are pros and cons to going down this route of assessment. The pros are essentially that you will get an assessment and diagnosis quicker than from the local NHS assessment service. The cons however are that should Right to Choose recommend medication be prescribed, to help with symptoms, this will lead to some difficulties.

The Psychiatry Right to Choose teams only seem to provide an assessment service, and for GPs to be able to provide medication it needs to be supervised by a specialist having been titrated to an appropriate dose by them. This means that after an assessment the GP would not be able to prescribe medication if there is no ongoing follow up. We would also not be able to refer you to the local NHS service, they will decline the referral as they are not commissioned to initiate treatment based on the assessment of others or perform assessment on those who have already been assessed and diagnosed.

If you are looking for a diagnosis, to help perhaps with work place interventions, then Psychiatry Right to Choose is probably appropriate for you. If you are wanting or expecting ongoing treatment following an assessment and diagnosis, whether that be medication or follow ups, then referral to the local NHS service, albeit a longer wait, is more likely to give you the outcome you would wish for.