ADHD and Autism Assessments
This page explains how to ask for an ADHD or autism assessment for an adult or a child, either through the NHS Right to Choose or through local NHS services.
On this page:
Right to Choose Referrals for ADHD and Autism
Under the NHS Right to Choose, you can ask to be referred to a provider of your choice for an ADHD assessment, an autism assessment, or both. This applies to adults and children. For a child, a parent or guardian completes and sends in the forms.
How It Works
- Choose a provider that offers Right to Choose assessments.
- Complete the provider’s referral forms yourself. Our GPs cannot complete providers’ online forms for you.
- Send the completed forms to us, either by email to southbourne.surgery@nhs.net or as a printed copy handed in at reception. Please include the patient’s full name and date of birth, and send only what the provider asks for.
- A GP will review and sign the forms, and we will send them to the provider.
Right to Choose referral leaflet (PDF)
Shared Care Prescribing
Important: Check medication before you choose a provider
We do not accept shared care prescribing agreements from private providers, including Right to Choose providers, and we do not issue prescriptions on behalf of Right to Choose providers. Please check with your chosen provider how any medication would be prescribed and continued before you are referred.
Shared care and Right to Choose providers: information for patients (Word document)
Shared care agreements: information for patients (Word document)
Local NHS ADHD and Autism Referrals
These referrals are to local NHS assessment services, not under Right to Choose.
Adult ADHD
Our guide explains the questionnaires and information we need to support a referral for a local NHS ADHD assessment. Once you have completed them, please send them to us, either by email to southbourne.surgery@nhs.net or as a printed copy handed in at reception. A GP will review them and make the referral.
Adult ADHD referral guide (PDF)
Adult Autism
Please write a short summary of why you think you may be autistic, and how this affects your daily life, work and relationships. This gives the assessment service the information it needs. Send it to us, either by email to southbourne.surgery@nhs.net or as a printed copy handed in at reception, and a GP will review it.
For mental health support for adults, including talking therapies, see our Mental Health page.
Children
Local NHS assessments for children are carried out by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and the referral is usually best made by the child’s school. Our letter for parents and guardians explains how this works.
ADHD and autism: letter for parents and guardians (PDF)
For emotional wellbeing and mental health support while you wait, see Support for Children and Young People on our Mental Health page.
Please do not use our email address for anything urgent.
