What is Right to Choose?
When a GP refers a child or young person for a physical or mental health condition (for example, an assessment for a neurodevelopmental need), the parent, carer, or young person usually has a legal right to choose which hospital or service provider they go to.
Who can you choose?
Right to Choose (RTC) is a legal right for NHS patients in England.
This means parent/carers or young people can choose private or independent providers that are contracted by the NHS. These services may sometimes offer faster assessments than local NHS services.
When should the choice be offered?
- When visiting the GP, the parent/carer or young person should be given the chance to:
- choose the provider at the time of the referral
- talk about the options with the professional making the referral
Are there any rules about which provider you can choose?
- Yes. You cannot choose just any service. The provider must:
- have a commissioning contract with an NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) or NHS England for the service needed
- have a service and team led by a consultant or a qualified mental health professional
What if you were not offered a choice?
If a parent/carer or young person asked their GP for a Right to Choose referral but were not given this option, they can make a complaint to their local Integrated Care Board (ICB).
If the ICB cannot resolve the issue, the complaint can then be taken to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.