Getting an ADHD Diagnosis : My Experience with Right to Choose

NHS waitlists? Chaos. GP confusion? Standard. Here's what it really looks like to get diagnosed with ADHD in the UK through the Right to Choose pathway — plus what I wish I'd known before I started.

I suspected I had ADHD for years. But I still wasn’t sure.

Was I just disorganised? Overcommitted? Terrible at admin?

I could focus — but only when it didn’t matter. I could perform — but only until I collapsed. I joked about being chaotic, being “too much,” being allergic to routine. But at some point, I had to admit: something wasn’t lining up.

That’s when I started looking into getting assessed. And quickly discovered the average NHS (England) wait time for adult ADHD diagnosis in my area was... 5 years.

Cool cool cool... Or not so much!

Enter: Right to Choose.

What Is “Right to Choose”?

Right to Choose is a legal NHS pathway that lets you pick a different provider for your treatment — as long as your GP is referring you for a condition they agree you may have.

Here’s the kicker: you can request to be referred to Psychiatry-UK, a private provider that works within the NHS framework. That means it’s free, and you don’t need to go private.

✅ NHS-funded
✅ Legally protected right
✅ Actually available (with a GP who cooperates)

🔗 I followed the ADHD UK guide here — and I highly recommend it.

💻 Choosing Psychiatry-UK

After a lot of Reddit deep-dives and NHS forum browsing, I landed on Psychiatry-UK (or P-UK as you’ll often see it called).

They’re a fully online NHS partner — so everything from the referral to the assessment happens virtually.

Pros:

• No awkward waiting rooms
• Faster than local NHS (in theory)
• ADHD specialists

Cons:

• Admin-heavy
• Their system isn’t always fast, even after 15 time of multiple login attempts!!
• You’ll need to chase things. A lot.

📅 My Timeline (Spoiler: It's a Waiting Game)

Here’s how long it took in real terms:

It’s not instant. In fact, it can still take months/years — but it’s usually less than the standard NHS route, and it gives you more control.

The Process in Practice

Once P-UK accepts your referral, you’ll be onboarded via their patient portal. Expect:

• Questionnaires (including ones for family/friends)
• A medical history form
• Blood pressure and weight checks
• Long-ish gaps with no updates
• An email eventually confirming your appointment

The assessment itself was one hour, on Zoom, with a psychiatrist who really knew ADHD inside out. I finally felt understood. I wasn’t overthinking, overreacting, or being dramatic.

I was, in their words, "I could see you playing and fidgeting the whole way thorugh and based on everything you've score 4 out of 5 and a textbook case.”

Which somehow felt validating, scary and slightly hilarious.

😵‍💫 What No One Tells You

• Your GP might not understand RTC. Be patient but firm. Bring printed resources. (Yes, printed.)
• You’ll likely wait in silence for weeks. This doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten you — but chasing does help.
• The admin burden is real. From paperwork to patient portals, the system assumes you’re well enough to manage everything yourself. (Ironic, right?)
• The emotional toll is heavier than expected. There were days I felt hopeless. Like I was making it all up. Like maybe I didn’t deserve help after all. Spoiler: I did.
• Let's also not forget the guilt and grief - I only mention this as this has had an effect on me my whole life, from relationships to jobs and everything in-between... Something that went wrong were ultimately down to my mind... It's very sombering to hear "YOU'VE GOT ADHD"

🗣️ What to Say to Your GP (If You Want to Go Through RTC)

Here’s a simple script to help you request a referral through Right to Choose.

“I’d like a referral for an ADHD assessment under the NHS Right to Choose pathway, specifically to Psychiatry-UK, a provider listed on the NHS e-Referral system.”

Take this with you:

• ADHD UK RTC Guide
• Psychiatry-UK’s referral instructions
• Any ADHD symptom questionnaires or examples you can provide

If your GP is unsure, you can calmly say:

“It’s part of my legal NHS patient rights under the Right to Choose pathway. This is still NHS-funded, just through a different provider.”

Be kind. Be firm. You’ve got this.

Why I’m Sharing This

Because the process can feel impossible.
Because there’s so little guidance unless you’re in a Reddit thread at 2am.
Because someone out there is still debating whether to ask their GP — and I want you to know it’s worth it.

You deserve clarity. You deserve care. And if your brain has been screaming for years that something is off — you deserve to be heard.

This diagnosis didn’t “fix” me. But it gave me language. It gave me tools. And it gave me the permission to stop fighting my own operating system and start working with it.

If you’re considering the Right to Choose route — I see you.
I’ve been you.
And I promise: it’s hard, but it’s not hopeless.