Right to Choose
The NHS Right to Choose gives you the option to have your autism assessment funded by the NHS at AXIA-ASD, without going through your local NHS provider.
It can be a helpful route for people who are facing long waiting times or who would prefer to be assessed by a specialist neurodevelopmental team with experience and understanding.
Reduced waiting times
Access an NHS-funded autism assessment without long local delays.
Experienced team
Be assessed by our specialist team.
Personalised and supportive
A respectful, individual approach from start to finish.
Referral
Who can refer?
We are happy to accept self-referrals, referrals from families, and referrals from professionals, service providers and commissioners.
For referrals made through the NHS Right to Choose pathway, there are some additional requirements. Right to Choose is available to people aged 18 or over who are registered with a GP in England and are seeking an autism assessment.
To access AXIA through Right to Choose, you will need to contact your GP and ask to be referred to AXIA specifically via the Right to Choose pathway.
We provide a referral form for GPs to make this process easier. If your GP has not received the form, or is unsure how to refer you, we can email a copy either to your GP practice or directly to you so that you can pass it on. Your GP can also use their own standard referral form, but it must clearly state that the referral is being made under Right to Choose.
Once we receive the referral, it will be reviewed by our referrals manager. If it is accepted, we will begin the appointment process. Following completion of the assessment, AXIA will invoice your local NHS Integrated Care Board.
For Right to Choose referrals, please note:
- Your registered GP must be in England.
- AXIA can currently provide Right to Choose assessments for autism only.
- Right to Choose assessments through AXIA are available only to people aged 18 and over.
Right to Choose (RTC)
About the Right to Choose
The NHS Right to Choose pathway was extended to mental health, learning disability and autism services in England from 1 April 2014. It gives eligible NHS patients greater choice over where they receive certain assessments and treatments, rather than being limited automatically to the service commissioned closest to where they live.
For autism assessments, this can give eligible people the option to ask their GP for a referral to an alternative NHS-contracted provider, such as AXIA. The assessment remains NHS funded, while giving people more choice over the service they are referred to.
AXIA is commissioned by Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board to carry out autism assessments for adults. This means we are able to provide adult autism assessments through the NHS Right to Choose pathway for eligible people registered with a GP in England.
