NHS funded Right to Choose assessments

NHS RTC autism assessments in Devon

What is Right to Choose (RTC)?

If your GP agrees that you or your child should be assessed for autism, you have a legal right to choose who carries out that assessment. This is called Right to Choose, and it is part of the NHS Choice framework.

You can choose any provider that holds a qualifying NHS contract for the service you need. The NHS pays for the assessment, so there is no cost to you.

The Autism Service holds an RTC contract with the NHS in Devon to assess children and adults for autism. To be awarded it, we were assessed against NHS clinical and information governance standards.

We offer NHS RTC autism assessments for children and adults

Our current waiting time is 14 weeks from your referral being received
All our assessments are carried out to NICE-compliant standards
One in-person appointment will take place in Exeter or Plymouth
We are a clinically led service with a multidisciplinary team
Our reports are accepted by the NHS, schools, employers and Local Authorities.

Who is it for?

Right to Choose with The Autism Service is for children and adults who:

Are registered with a GP practice in England
Have a GP who agrees that an autism assessment is appropriate
Do not already have an autism diagnosis
Can attend an appointment in person in Devon

How it works

Find out how our Right to Choose pathway works for adults, children and young people, and for GPs and referrers.

How it works for adults

How it works for children

How it works for GPs and referrers

Waiting times

Our current waiting time for a first appointment in Devon is 14 weeks from your referral being received. Most assessments are complete four to six weeks after they start. NHS Devon ICB plans and funds services locally, and it can set limits on how many assessments providers carry out. We will always tell you the current timescale when you get in touch.

Where do assessments take place?

We believe autism assessments should be carried out in person. Under Right to Choose, your face-to-face appointment takes place at one of our two Devon clinics, in Exeter or Plymouth.

Only one of your appointments needs to be in person: the observational assessment, called the ADOS-2. Your other appointments are by video call.

Live outside Devon?

You can still ask your GP to refer you to us. Your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) will need to agree to fund the assessment first, and you will need to travel to Devon for at least one appointment. Our team can tell you whether this is likely to be possible based on where you live and any current restrictions in place with your local ICB.

    
 
 
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   Ian Harris 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. All the staff and clinicians were very friendly and put you at your ease. The whole process was so reassuring and you were made to feel comfortable at all times.
  
 
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   Jugana Nowak 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would highly recommend The Autism Service. Everyone we had contact with was incredibly kind, understanding, empathetic and very helpful. They responded to emails almost immediately, which made the whole process much less stressful for us.

My daughter usually does not like talking on the phone or online, but she felt comfortable and opened up during the appointments. She was happy to answer questions, which shows that the staff truly know how to approach and support their patients.

Even after the assessment was completed, they continued to be helpful and supportive. We are very grateful for their professionalism and care. I highly recommend this service.
  
 
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   Nicola Loasby 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such a positive experience from start to finish.  We had been waiting three years for an NHS Assessment and decided to go private for our daughter.  From the start, there was a detailed plan in place.  I knew what was going on at every stage and the whole process was quick and well informed.  We have finally been listened to and have a report that helps us to provide the help and guidance our daughter deserves.  Thank you!
  
 
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   graham hussey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very good service and very supportive
  
 
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   Jasmine Glanville 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. For a long time we struggled with our son and just knew there was something different about him. After being told NHS waiting times were over 24 months, we felt we had no choice but to go private for the sake of our 9-year-old. At that point, he would have been starting secondary school before we even received a diagnosis, and he was already struggling.

As parents, we felt it was our duty to get answers sooner rather than later.

Choosing The Autism Service was honestly the best decision we could have made. From start to finish the whole process was smooth, professional, and well communicated. We felt listened to, supported, and reassured every step of the way.

I would highly recommend this service to any parent in a similar position.

Looking for an ADHD assessment through RTC?

Our Devon contract covers autism only. Our sister company, The ADHD Service, offers NHS Right to Choose ADHD assessments in Essex for children aged 6-18 (no waiting list) and for NHS Right to Choose Autism and ADHD assessments and treatment for Adults and Children in North East and North Cumbria (upto 76 week waiting list).

Want to be seen sooner?

If Right to Choose waiting times don’t work for you, a private assessment may help you get clarity and support sooner, for adults and children.

Learn more

Why choose The Autism Service?

A specialist team: Your assessment is carried out by experienced clinicians, including psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, specialist nurses, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.

Time to understand you: We listen to your experiences, your concerns and the support you might need. Every assessment is thorough, compassionate and follows NICE guidance.

Reports that open doors: You receive a clear, detailed report with practical recommendations for school, university, work or everyday life. Our reports are accepted by the NHS, schools, employers and local authorities.

Seen in person: We don’t cut corners. Our assessment pathway is the same today as when we started, and we hold firm that being seen in person when clinica guidance matters to getting an autism assessment right.

FAQs

No. If your GP refers you under Right to Choose, the NHS pays for your assessment.

Children and adults who are registered with a GP practice in England, whose GP agrees an autism assessment is appropriate, and who do not already have an autism diagnosis.

No. The referral must come from your GP. You can contact us first and we will send you the form to take to your appointment. Alternatively we offer private assessments within 4 weeks for both adults and children.

Possibly. Your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) would need to agree to fund the assessment, and you would need to travel to Devon for at least one appointment. Contact us and we will tell you whether it is likely to be possible.

Yes, for one appointment. The observational assessment (ADOS-2) takes place in person at our clinic in Exeter or Plymouth. Your other appointments are by video call.

We can usually offer a first appointment within 14 weeks of your GP’s referral being received. Most assessments are complete four to six weeks after they start.

There are two main parts. The first is a detailed developmental history, taken in an interview of up to three hours with someone who knows you well, or with parents for a child. We use the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). The second is the ADOS-2, an observation carried out one-to-one with a clinician.

No. The clinical team reviews everything first, then shares the outcome with you at a feedback appointment. There are three possible outcomes: a diagnosis, no diagnosis, or inconclusive. Fewer than 1% of assessments are inconclusive, and if that happens a clinician will advise you on what is needed to reach a clear outcome.

Yes. Our reports are accepted by the NHS, schools, employers and local authorities.

We write to you and your GP to explain why, so you can discuss other options.

Not with us in Devon; this contract covers autism only. Our sister company, The ADHD Service, offers NHS-funded ADHD assessments in some areas.

Yes. You can ask your GP to refer you to us under Right to Choose even if you’re already on an NHS waiting list for an autism assessment. If you do, you’ll need to let the provider whose waiting list you’re on know, so they can take you off it.