NHS England is rolling out regional ADHD assessment hubs. Understand how they work and whether they replace or complement Right to Choose.
ADHD assessment hubs are new NHS regional centres designed to reduce waiting times. They do not replace Right to Choose - you can still use RTC even where hubs exist. In some areas, hubs may offer faster local assessment, making RTC less necessary.
ADHD assessment hubs are a new NHS England initiative designed to tackle the crisis in ADHD diagnosis waiting times. Instead of every local NHS trust running its own ADHD service (often with tiny teams and massive backlogs), regional hubs pool resources and capacity across a wider area.
Hubs serve multiple ICB areas, meaning they draw from a larger pool of clinicians and can process more assessments than a single local service.
Most hubs use a consistent assessment model, often including digital screening tools before a face-to-face or video assessment. This speeds up triage.
Hubs are fully NHS-funded. There is no cost to the patient. They are part of the standard NHS pathway, not a separate private or Right to Choose route.
The primary goal is to cut waiting times from years to months. Early results from pilot hubs show significant reductions, though availability is still patchy.
This is the key question. The short answer: hubs do not replace Right to Choose. But the relationship between the two is not always straightforward.
Even in areas with an active hub, your legal right to choose an NHS-funded provider under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 remains. A hub is simply another option within the NHS pathway, not a replacement for your right to choose where you are assessed.
Some Integrated Care Boards may encourage GPs to refer to the local hub rather than processing Right to Choose referrals. This is not legally enforceable. If you prefer to use Right to Choose, you are entitled to do so. However, if the hub wait is shorter, it may be worth considering.
If a hub in your area can assess you within a reasonable timeframe, you may not need to use Right to Choose at all. The whole point of RTC is to bypass long waits. If the wait is no longer long, the urgency decreases.
Hub rollout is ongoing and coverage varies. As of early 2026, the following regions have active or pilot ADHD assessment hubs. This list is not exhaustive and new hubs are being commissioned regularly.
Several boroughs now have access to hub-based assessment, with digital screening as the first step.
Greater Manchester and Lancashire have piloted regional hub models with reduced waiting times.
Kent, Surrey, and Sussex have hub services in various stages of rollout.
Birmingham and surrounding ICBs have established hub pathways for adult ADHD.
Tees Valley and Durham have piloted hub-based triage and assessment.
Bristol, Somerset, and Devon have early-stage hub services with expanding capacity.
Hub availability changes frequently. Contact your GP or local ICB to find out whether a hub serves your area and what the current waiting time is. You can also check NHS England's service finder for ADHD pathways.
Each route to ADHD assessment has different trade-offs. Here is how they compare.
| ADHD Hub | Right to Choose | Private | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (NHS-funded) | Free (NHS-funded) | 500 - 2,000+ |
| Typical Wait | Varies by region. Months where hubs are active. | 2 - 6 months with most providers | Days to weeks |
| GP Referral Needed | Yes | Yes | No |
| Provider Choice | No - you are referred to the hub | Yes - you choose the provider | Yes - you choose the clinic |
| NHS Records | Automatic - it is an NHS service | Automatic - it is NHS-funded | Not automatic. You must share results with your GP. |
| Medication | Can be initiated by the hub and transferred to GP | Can be initiated by the provider and transferred to GP | Private prescription or shared care agreement needed |
| Availability | Patchy. Not all areas have hubs yet. | Available across England wherever waits exceed 18 weeks | Available immediately, anywhere |
If your local area has an ADHD assessment hub, here is how to decide on the best route for you.
Ask your GP or contact the hub directly to find out the current wait. If the hub can see you within a few months, it may be the simplest route. No need to research external providers or argue for Right to Choose.
If the hub wait is still long, or you prefer to choose your own provider, Right to Choose remains available. Some RTC providers still have shorter waits than hubs in certain areas. It is worth checking both before committing.
There is no single best route. The right choice depends on your local hub wait, the RTC provider wait, your personal preferences, and whether you want to choose the organisation that assesses you. All three routes (hub, RTC, private) lead to the same outcome: a clinical ADHD assessment.
The ADHD assessment landscape in the UK is changing rapidly. Several trends are shaping what comes next.
NHS England is continuing to commission new hubs across the country. The goal is national coverage, though this will take time. Areas without hubs today may have them within 12 to 18 months.
Many hubs and RTC providers are adopting digital screening tools as a first step. Online questionnaires and video consultations are becoming standard, speeding up the initial triage process.
Some services are piloting AI tools to help with initial screening and prioritisation. These tools do not replace clinical assessment but can help identify who needs to be seen most urgently.
The NHS is moving toward pathways that assess for ADHD alongside other conditions like anxiety and autism, rather than treating each as a separate referral. This should reduce repeat assessments and improve overall care.
No. ADHD hubs are an additional NHS pathway, not a replacement for Right to Choose. Your legal right to choose an NHS-funded provider under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 remains regardless of whether a hub exists in your area.
No. Your GP may recommend the hub, especially if the wait is shorter, but they cannot force you to use it. If you prefer to use Right to Choose, that is your legal right. However, it is worth comparing wait times before deciding.
Not yet. Hub rollout is ongoing and coverage is uneven. Some regions have well-established hubs, while others have no hub access at all. Check with your GP or local ICB to find out what is available in your area.
Yes. Both hubs and Right to Choose providers deliver clinical ADHD assessments conducted by specialist clinicians. The assessment standards are the same. The difference is in referral route and provider choice, not clinical quality.
Then Right to Choose is likely the faster route. Compare wait times for both before committing. Your GP can tell you the hub wait, and you can check RTC provider waits directly on their websites or by contacting them.
Whether you choose a hub, Right to Choose, or private assessment, My ADHD Path helps you understand every step of the journey. From GP conversations to post-diagnosis support.