How to Write a Right to Choose Letter to Your GP for ADHD

You Know You Have the Right, But What Do You Actually Write?

I can't tell you how many times a client has sat across from me (or on the other end of a Zoom call, let's be real) and said something like, "I know I can use Right to Choose, I've read about it, but I just... don't know what to actually put in the letter." And then they show me this blank Word document that's been open on their laptop for three weeks.

I get it. Truly. When you're already struggling with executive function, the idea of writing a formal letter to a medical professional feels like climbing Everest in flip-flops. Your brain knows what it wants to say, but getting it from your head onto the page? That's a whole different challenge.

If you're not sure what Right to Choose actually is, I'd recommend reading my full guide on Right to Choose for ADHD first. But if you already know the basics and you just need help with the actual letter, you're in the right place.

Here's the thing: the letter doesn't need to be perfect. It doesn't need to be long. It just needs to include the right information and reference the right policy. Let me walk you through exactly what that looks like.

What to Include in Your Right to Choose Letter

Your letter needs to be clear, polite, and structured. GPs are busy. They receive hundreds of letters and they're far more likely to act on something that's easy to process. Here's what to include:

Your personal details at the top:

• Your full name
• Your address
• Your date of birth
• Your NHS number (you can find this on any NHS correspondence, the NHS App, or by calling your surgery)

The GP surgery details:

• Name of your GP or "Dear Doctor" if you're not sure who'll read it
• Surgery name and address
• The date you're sending the letter

A clear subject line such as: "Request for Right to Choose Referral for ADHD Assessment"

The body of the letter should include:

• A clear statement that you are exercising your legal Right to Choose under the NHS England policy (specifically referencing Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 and the NHS Choice Framework)
• The name of the provider you'd like to be referred to
• A brief description of why you believe you may have ADHD
• A polite request for the referral to be processed

Sign off professionally with your full name and a line saying you're happy to discuss further if needed.

That's genuinely it. You don't need to write an essay. You don't need to justify your entire life story. A one-page letter that hits all those points is more than enough.

How to Describe Your Situation Honestly and Clearly

This is where people tend to either over-explain or under-explain. You want to find the sweet spot: enough detail that the GP understands why you're seeking assessment, but not so much that the letter becomes overwhelming.

Be specific. Instead of writing "I struggle with focus," try something like "I regularly lose track of conversations mid-sentence, even when I'm genuinely interested in what's being said. I've missed bill payments because I forget they exist until I get a red letter."

Think about functional impact. How does this affect your work, your relationships, your daily life? GPs respond well to concrete examples because it helps them understand the clinical need.

A few areas worth mentioning if they apply to you:

• Difficulty with time management or chronic lateness
• Problems with organisation at work or home
• Emotional dysregulation (intense reactions that feel disproportionate)
• Difficulty completing tasks, even ones you want to do
• Restlessness or an inability to switch off
• Issues that have been present since childhood, even if you only recently connected them to ADHD

Be honest. Don't exaggerate, don't minimise. Just tell the truth about what life is like for you right now. If you want to understand more about what the assessment process actually involves, have a look at my post on what happens during an ADHD assessment.

Quick tip: Write your letter when you're feeling relatively calm and focused. If that means doing it at 11pm because that's when your brain cooperates, so be it. There's no rule that says important letters have to be written at 9am on a Monday.

Common GP Objections and How to Address Them

Unfortunately, not every GP is familiar with Right to Choose. Some will push back. Here's a table of the most common objections and how you can respond, either in your letter or in a follow-up appointment.

If you're worried about pushback, you might want to include a brief reference to the policy in your letter itself. Something like: "I understand that under the NHS Choice Framework and Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006, I have the legal right to choose the provider for my first outpatient appointment."

For more context on how the NHS ADHD pathway works and your options, check out my posts on getting an ADHD diagnosis in the UK and what to do while on the NHS waiting list.

Key Elements of an Effective Right to Choose Letter

Here's a quick reference table to make sure your letter covers everything it needs to:

What to Do If Your GP Ignores or Refuses Your Letter

If you've sent a well-structured letter and your GP still won't process the referral, don't panic. You have options.

Step 1: Ask to speak to the practice manager. Sometimes the issue is a single GP who isn't familiar with the policy. The practice manager may be able to escalate it or assign a different GP to handle it.

Step 2: Contact PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). Every NHS Trust has a PALS team. They can advocate on your behalf and often resolve issues quickly. You can find your local PALS service on the NHS website.

Step 3: Write to your ICB (Integrated Care Board). If the practice is still refusing, contact your local ICB directly. Explain that your GP is not processing a Right to Choose referral and ask them to intervene. ICBs have a legal obligation to uphold this policy.

Step 4: Make a formal complaint. If none of the above works, you can submit a formal complaint through the NHS complaints procedure. This creates a paper trail and puts pressure on the practice to respond.

Step 5: Contact your MP. As a last resort, writing to your local MP can be surprisingly effective. MPs have teams dedicated to handling constituent healthcare issues and they can apply pressure that you simply can't as an individual.

I know this sounds exhausting, and honestly, it can be. But most people don't need to go past step one or two. The majority of GPs will process the referral once they understand the policy. If you're weighing up your options between NHS and private routes, my comparison of NHS vs private ADHD assessment might help you think things through.

Providers That Accept Right to Choose Referrals

Several providers currently accept Right to Choose referrals for ADHD assessment. Here are some of the most well-known:

• Psychiatry-UK is probably the most widely known Right to Choose ADHD provider. They've processed thousands of referrals and have a fairly streamlined system.
• Clinical Partners offers Right to Choose assessments in some areas, though availability can vary.
• ADHD 360 is another option that some people have had positive experiences with.

Important: Provider availability changes regularly. Some providers temporarily close their books when demand is high, and new providers join the approved list from time to time. Always check the provider's website directly before requesting a referral to confirm they're currently accepting Right to Choose patients.

Also worth noting: wait times vary between providers. Just because you're using Right to Choose doesn't mean you'll be seen next week. But it's typically much faster than the standard NHS pathway, which can have wait times of two to five years in some areas.

While you're waiting for your assessment, it's worth thinking about what you can do in the meantime to support yourself. Apps like Sprout can be really helpful for building small self-care habits and keeping some structure in your day, especially when everything feels a bit up in the air. And if you're looking for practical strategies to manage while you wait, have a look at my ADHD mentoring services for ongoing support.

How Mentoring Can Help You Feel More Confident Preparing Your Letter

I want to be really clear here: as an ADHD mentor, I don't draft letters for you or provide medical or legal advice. That's not what mentoring is, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to do so.

What I can do is help you feel more confident and prepared. In my mentoring sessions, we can talk through what you want to say, help you organise your thoughts, and give you the encouragement you need to actually hit send. I know from my experience as a social worker how much of a difference it makes to have someone in your corner when you're navigating systems that feel overwhelming.

A lot of my clients come to me specifically because they're stuck in the "I know what I need to do but I can't make myself do it" cycle. Sound familiar? That's not laziness. That's executive dysfunction, and it's one of the core features of ADHD. Having someone to work through it with, step by step, can make all the difference.

I also offer a Help With Forms service through my services page, which is designed for exactly this kind of situation. Whether it's a Right to Choose letter, a PIP application, or an Access to Work form, I can sit with you and provide guidance and moral support while you work through it.

If you'd like to know more about how mentoring works and whether it might be a good fit for you, check out my pricing page for session options.

Ready to Get Started?

Writing that letter is one of the hardest parts of the whole process, but it's also one of the most important. Once you send it, you've taken a real, concrete step toward getting the support you deserve. And honestly? Most people feel a massive sense of relief once it's done.

If you'd like support preparing your letter, working through the process, or just figuring out what your next steps should be, I'm here to help. You can book a session with me and we'll work through it together. No judgement, no pressure, just practical support from someone who genuinely gets it.

You've got this. And if you don't feel like you've got this, that's okay too. That's exactly what mentoring is for.