The Right to Choose Psychiatry ukAs a patient, you have the legal right to decide the place you're referred to for your treatment. This applies to consult-led elective care, as well as to services ordered by CCGs or NHS England.Psychiatry UK offers ADHD, Autism, and combined assessments as part of the NHS Right to Choice program. This enables those on long NHS waiting lists to exercise their right to choose a healthcare provider and cut their wait time for an assessment.What is the right of choice?The right to choose psychiatry UK is a crucial legal right that allows people to make their own decisions regarding their health care. This is the case for a variety of services such as assessments and treatments. When a person is assessed for a condition, such as ADHD they can choose to be referred to an alternative NHS service provider than their local area. This is a good option for various reasons, including travel restrictions and when a patient wishes to consult with a specialist about their condition.The right to choose is currently available at the time of referral by a primary care doctor for first outpatient appointments for a mental or physical health condition. It is only available to providers who are medically appropriate and have a commissioning contract with the CCG or NHS England (host commissioner) for the particular service.For example when a person is being referred to their local NHS Trust for an ADHD diagnosis, they could be referred to a local mental health service where waiting times can be longer than 2 years for a first appointment. If the patient has the right to choose they can opt to be directed to an online ADHD diagnosis service such as Psychiatry-UK which offers a quicker pathway to diagnosis.This is a positive change that can increase access to mental health care in the UK. It is frustrating waiting for an assessment before treatment. But, there are several obstacles in enhancing access and delivery of psychiatry services in the UK. There is a shortage in consultants and a desire to boost recruitment for the field.If a GP wants to refer the child to Psychiatry UK for an online ADHD test under the legal right of choice they must write a brief letter explaining their reasoning. The letter should be addressed directly to Psychiatry UK and include the name of the doctor at the end of the page (not ANP). The letter should also contain an overview of the patient's medical history and an completed AQ50 (click here for a template). The Psychiatry UK team will then contact the referring GP for more information.Who is eligible for the right to choose?In England, you are eligible for Right to Choose if you have been referred by a physician to a consultant-led health team to be assessed or treated. This includes the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders for ADHD or Autism. It doesn't include other NHS services like psychotherapy, counselling or psychiatric medications. You must also not be serving in the Armed Forces, be detained under the Mental Health Act or be in a secure location (including courts, prisons, certain secure training centres, young offenders institutions or immigration removal centres).To exercise your right to choose, you must have been referred by your GP to an NHS provider who is authorized to provide the service. The service provided must be clinically appropriate for your needs. Psychiatry UK offers ADHD assessments for adults and children who are younger than 19 through Right to Choose. These assessments are conducted in person. They can however, offer a private ADHD assessment for adults and children If you prefer an appointment online. They also offer titration of medication after an assessment. However this service is not available via RTC.It is crucial to inform your GP that you intend to exercise your right to choose. The majority of Right to Choose providers have a referral letter template that you can download and bring to your GP that explains the information they require from you in order to approve the referral. Click here for a copy of the template from Psychiatry UK.How can I exercise my right of choice?If your GP suggests you to seek special mental health treatment you have a legal right to choose the healthcare provider. Your choice will not cost the NHS any more than if you were referred to an NHS hospital. You can make use of your right to choose a patient for any provider and service that has an NHS Standard Contract with any CCG or NHS England for the required service (this includes numerous private hospitals). You are not able to use your choice to get quicker access to cancer treatment services that are subject to a two week maximum waiting time and maternity services as well as mental health services offered by the armed forces.In a survey of future psychiatrists conducted in the first, three, and five years after medical school, 4% of respondents chose psychiatry as their first career choice. When comparing this figure with doctors who chose other clinical careers the results were similar to the 3-4% of Americans who choose the field of psychiatry. The figures were higher for women than men. This is consistent with a long-standing trend in which more women opt to become psychiatrists.The decision of psychiatrists to pursue the field of psychiatry is influenced by a variety of factors. Of these, 'enthusiasm/commitment: what I really want to do' was the factor rated as having most influence by over half of respondents in year one. 'Student experience of the subject','self-appraisal of own skills' and 'inclinations before medical school' were also cited as having a significant effect on choice.For those with ADHD their doctor may make use of the NHS's Right to Choose to refer them for an independent assessment through Psychiatry-UK. This will result in an assessment and medication titration being provided by a specialist ADHD clinician. Here, GPs will find more information, including a letter they can give their patients.For other disorders, like OCD for instance, you must only exercise your Right to Choose when your doctor has recommended an examination by a specialist mental health practitioner and you have been discharged from the service. Your doctor can request a referral from the specialist mental health services to Psychiatry-UK, and we can then provide an independent assessment and titration for any medication prescribed.What if I don't wish to exercise my right to make a decision?You don't have to make use of your right to choose whether or not you wish to. If you decide to do so then you should understand the implications of doing this. If private psychiatrists uk decide not to take advantage of your right to decide it will impact how quickly you get an appointment and the type of service you get. It also will affect how much choice you have in the future should you need to be referred back.If you decide not to exercise your right to choose, it's important to inform your GP straight away. They'll direct you to a clinic that's best for your needs. It may take longer to schedule an appointment however if it's the best thing to do, it is worth it.You can ask your GP to write to Psychiatry UK to see if they offer an online ADHD assessment. The website offers information on how to complete this, and includes a printable letter to give to your GP. The service is available to both children and adults, but they do not provide titration of medication through the NHS after an assessment. They are currently able to provide an assessment for patients in Kent and Medway as in addition to Isle of Wight and North East Hampshire.Psychiatry-UK is a not-for-profit organisation which offers no-cost secure, confidential, online consultations with psychiatrists who are qualified. Consultations are conducted on the internet and are booked via a secure online booking system. These appointments are recorded and saved on a medical database, and the data is analyzed by a team of specially trained medical professionals to monitor the patient's health. These clinicians are also overseen by senior mental health professionals who ensure that the services are provided at the highest quality.The authors would like thank the nine participants for their time and effort. They were selected from a variety of backgrounds and at different stages of their education starting from their second year at BSMS until having just completed their fifth year of medical school. They were interviewed via video or email, and were asked to talk about their experiences in choosing the field of psychiatry as a career.