Neurodevelopmental services
Patient choice/Right to choose for children and young people
What is it?
In many cases, you have the legal right to choose where you have your NHS treatment. The NHS is offering more options to enable you to make choices that best suit your circumstances. This gives you greater control of your care, and hopefully better results.
If a GP needs to refer you for treatment, in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you'd like to go to.
This will include many private hospitals if they provide services to the NHS. It does not cost the NHS any more than a referral to a standard NHS hospital.
You can also choose a clinical team led by a consultant or named healthcare professional if:
- That service provides the treatment you need, and
- They have an NHS contract
NHS Norfolk and Waveney has published a Patient Choice Policy.
What can I do?
The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is intending to increase the number of private providers who can hold an NHS contract for Autism and ADHD assessments for children and young people. Soon, there will be a provider framework in place. More information will follow about who is on that list.
In the meantime, to learn who has an NHS contract, contact the ICB team:
- Email: nwicb.contactus@nhs.net
- Phone: 01603 595857
You can also contact your GP who may know about what services are available locally.
Your GP will decide if a referral to an alternative provider is clinically appropriate. In most cases, GPs will need to refer you for assessment.
Bear in mind that there is no guarantee the providers will accept your referral. NHS Norfolk and Waveney need to know that the provider holds an NHS contract for services included in the referral.