Right to Choose Adult Autism Assessment: My Experience

In a recent blog post, I spoke about going through NHS England’s ‘Right to Choose’ process to get a quicker autism assessment. I had never heard of this, and I thought that was just because I was new to the autistic world. However, I have since learned that many people are simply not told about this option, which is awful considering how many people struggle for years on long waiting lists.

Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to write a blog about my experience of the Right to Choose process.. Especially for folks who might not have seen my recent video series on this, or might just prefer the written word.

Discovering the Right to Choose Pathway

Waiting times for an adult autism assessment here in the UK are continuing to rise. Currently, they are averaging out at 17 months. However, the reality is that depending on where you live, it can be far longer than that.

At the age of 50, I was finally in a place where I was ready to accept and explore the possibility that I was autistic. I simply could not face multiple years on a waiting list. Enough damage had already been done through years of misdiagnosis.

Discovering the Right to Choose pathway was a relief, as it would allow me to access a private assessment funded by the NHS in just a few months rather than multiple years. It sounded like the perfect way to get a formal assessment while still staying within the NHS system. However, I had no idea what the process would actually involve.

In this post, I want to share how I navigated Right to Choose and what my experience was like. I hope this is helpful for anyone considering this route.

What is ‘Right to Choose’?

Right to Choose is an NHS policy where individuals in England have the right to choose their health care provider. This was introduced to help improve access to services and reduce waiting times. 

Applying this to autism assessments, under the NHS Right to Choose policy, individuals in England have the legal right to select their provider. This means that, if your local provider has a long waiting time for autism assessments, you are free to look around and choose another provider outside your area. The scheme allows you to access a private specialist assessment while still being funded through the NHS.

For me, this pathway felt empowering. I could choose a provider whose approach felt right for me, rather than being limited by local services or long waiting lists. That sense of choice made a huge difference in how prepared and supported I felt before the assessment even began.

The Right to Choose Process

The process is fairly straightforward. After choosing a provider, you request a referral through your GP. You provide them with any supporting information, and then the NHS coordinates the funding with the private provider you choose.

Most providers will have an NHS Right to Choose page on their website. This will walk you through the process on how to get referred to them. Each provider may ask for something slightly different. For example, perhaps writing a brief explanation about why you are seeking a diagnosis or filling in a screening questionnaire. You forward all this to your GP, who then includes it with your referral.

It can feel like a bit of a scary process, especially because you have to be very hands-on and proactive. The first stage of the process, when you talk to your GP, is to inform them in writing that you want to enact your right to choose. You can download a standard template of this letter from most providers’ websites, which makes it easier. Most GPs will then cooperate and follow all the necessary steps. However, you do still have to make sure you have got everything necessary for your specific provider and advocate for yourself.

My Experience Using Right to Choose

When I first looked at Right to Choose, I moved quickly from excitement to overwhelm! It was amazing to see that I could cut my waiting time from years to months. However, looking at the list of providers, the forms, and the need to speak to my GP seemed terrifying. I’m always anxious, and this was just too much!

Breaking it down into manageable steps, I started with the list of providers. Thankfully, I found a really useful list from ADHDuk, which is frequently updated with all the latest waiting times. You can find that here.

After research, I decided to ask for a referral to Skylight Psychiatry. They had a clinic not too far from me, which meant that I would be able to attend one of the required face-to-face assessments.

Speaking with my GP was easier than I expected. I passed on the letter I had downloaded from Skylight Psychiatry’s webpage, along with all the other details they required. I explained that I wanted an adult autism assessment, and I’d like to use the Right to Choose pathway. My GP was supportive, and together we completed the necessary referral paperwork.

Receiving a date for assessment – quicker through Right to Choose!

The speed at which everything happened after that was shocking! It was September when my GP referred me. In October, I received a text message from Skylight Psychiatry with a link to register on their website. This link was to a special page full of documents for me to complete. Once I had completed my basic details, I then received a date for my first appointment, on the 10^th of December! I was relieved and excited. No longer being in limbo, I would finally have official confirmation of my autism

Over those couple of months, I also made sure to prepare myself mentally. I reflected on my earlier experiences, including the insights I’d gained through counselling, and reminded myself that there was no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to be autistic. This mindset helped me approach the assessment with curiosity rather than anxiety.

Overall, using Right to Choose felt empowering. I had a clear sense of control, I could choose a provider who felt right for me, and I didn’t have the agony of years of waiting.

It wasn’t without small challenges, such as the paperwork and coordinating with my GP. However, this was nowhere near as bad as I feared it might be.

Watch My Video

If you’d like to see more about how I navigated Right to Choose, I’ve shared my experience in my first video in this series. You can watch it here:

In this video, I’m sharing my experience of using the NHS Right to Choose process to access a quicker autism assessment in the UK. With NHS waiting lists often stretching into years, this was one way I was able to move things forward more quickly

Conclusion

If you’re considering a similar path, I hope sharing my experience offers some guidance and reassurance. Remember, everyone’s journey is different, and there’s no single way to navigate this process; what matters most is finding what works for you.

Please also remember that the Right to Choose pathway is currently only available in England as an NHS England policy.

In the next blog, I’ll share the second part of my series: what the assessment itself was like and how it felt to receive my autism diagnosis. If you don’t want to wait, you can watch the next two videos in my series here:

• My Assessment Experience with Skylight Psychiatry
• Receiving My Autism Diagnosis Report

Thank you for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences if you’ve gone through a similar process. Feel free to leave a comment or reach out. I always appreciate connecting with others on this journey.