Neurodivergent Referral Pathways

The national NHS Right to Choose (RTC) Framework allows NHS patients the ability to select their healthcare provider when seeking a referral from a GP or another designated professional for their initial or first appointment. This right applies provided the referral is for a clinically appropriate physical or mental health service.

Patients have two options:

1. NHS providers
2. Independent Right to choose providers. Approved by the NHS

NHS providers generally have longer waiting times for diagnosis. As shared care is a voluntary process, in some cases, the practice can provide a full shared care service including prescribing and relevant tests/monitoring as part of the referral. However, we can decline shared care based on clinical and capacity grounds.
Independent Right To Choose providers: In the current climate it is understandable that some patients are considering ‘Right To Choose’ providers and are requesting referral to independent providers who hold an NHS contract outside of Sussex NHS. Some providers are advertising NHS assessments and shorter waiting times.

Patients choosing such services should be mindful that some services will only diagnose and will not prescribe or provide the secondary care part of a shared care arrangement. Please note Hastings and Rother Healthcare will not enter into a shared care agreement with such providers and this will need to be considered by the patient.
You can request that an NHS provider take over your care and in such circumstances, we’d refer you to the appropriate local neurodivergent NHS pathway, who would then request a shared-care agreement with the practice. In the interim, you will need to manage your treatment with your existing provider.

Referral process:
Children and young people with NHS providers:
Contact the school nurse/SENCO to arrange a referral. The practice is not involved in this process.
Children and young people with independent Right To Choose providers:
Download a self-referral form from the providers’ website, which the school nurse/SENCO will be required to complete. Send the completed referral to the practice and we will submit it to the provider with a covering letter.
Adults with NHS providers:
Contact the practice via the normal channels to arrange a referral.
Adults with independent Right To Choose providers:
Contact the practice via the normal channels to arrange a referral.

Neurodivergent Referral Pathways

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