NHS England is currently consulting on a proposal that could limit the number of families Right to Choose providers can support each year. This would impact all NHS services, including autism and ADHD assessments.
We want to reassure you that nothing has changed at the moment.
You can still get referrals to our services. If you've already been referred, appointments will go ahead as planned. You will receive communication from us, if anything changes.
If this proposal is accepted, it could seriously impact waiting lists, making them even longer—contradicting NHS national priorities. However, this is still under consultation and no decision has been made. A final decision is expected in April 2025.
As a dedicated Right to Choose provider, we are working closely with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) and autism and ADHD charities to oppose this proposal. We strongly believe this is not thought through, as it would negatively affect many families and further increase waiting times.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Following our Devon launch, we have seen a very high number of families reaching out for autism assessments. We are truly grateful for the trust in us and we are keen to support you on this process.
However, this demand means our appointments are fully booked for the next few months. We know this is not what you expected, and it is not what we aim for - we aim for a maximum wait of 4 weeks. We are sorry for the disappointment this longer wait may have caused and are working hard to expand our capacity, with our top priority being to open up more appointment slots.
In a few weeks, we expect to have more availability, giving you the option to reschedule for an earlier date.
Thank you for your patience—we will update you as soon as we can!
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The parent interview was conducted with a lot of professionalism. I’ve got ADHD myself and the clinician kept me on tack when I needed it. She gave me the chance to share all the details and I didn’t feel rushed at all.
My experience has been very positive. The process was extremely quick; the GP referred my daughter and I got portal access the same day.
During the child observation, my daughter masked better than she ever had in her life. I was worried she had hidden her true self. Fortunately the team was professional and was able to see through it.
Kate is a compassionate Clinical Psychologist with extensive expertise in autism through her roles in the NHS, private practice, and education. She has a deep passion for promoting neurodivergence awareness and empowering individuals to realise their full potential.
Manish is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with nearly 20 years of experience in the NHS, including 13 years dedicated to supporting children and young people. Aside from his work at Paloma Health, he works as a Lead Clinician in an NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in South East London.
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As Senior Autism Assessor at Paloma Health, Shona helps families recognise, understand, and support their strengths and challenges. She has done so throughout her speech and language therapy career over the last 12 years. She is passionate about delivering high-quality, person-centred NHS care. Her insights, motivation and inspiration is gained from autistic individuals throughout her personal and professional life.
