ADHD and ASD Referrals
⏰ Critical Waiting Times
Be aware of significantly long waiting lists for neurodevelopmental assessments. Ensure patients are informed of these delays prior to referral.
⏳ Current Waiting Times (Updated August 2026)
Critical Update - Assessments Paused
All NHS ADHD & ASD assessments are paused until at least 31 March 2027 due to funding constraints. Waiting times on provider websites are NOT accurate for GM ICB patients. All Right to Choose referrals are affected - there are no exceptions.
| Service | Waiting Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wigan ADHD Team | 7+ years | Local NHS pathway |
| Wigan ASD Team | 5+ years | Local NHS pathway |
| Right to Choose Providers | 2-3+ years | All providers have same wait times |
| WWL Paediatric ADHD & ASD | 2-3 years | Paediatric only |
🔄 Right to Choose Status (Updated September 2026)
Critical Update - Assessments Paused Until March 2027
All NHS ADHD & ASD assessments through Right to Choose are paused until at least 31 March 2027 due to funding constraints.
Key Points:
- Waiting times on provider websites are NOT applicable to Manchester/GM ICB patients
- All RTC providers now have identical waiting times (2-3+ years)
- Patients CANNOT switch providers once on a waiting list (waiting times are now the same regardless of provider)
- Children no longer seen quicker under RTC pathway
- Referrals for children are unlikely to be faster than conventional referrals
Important: The waiting times advertised on the ADHD RTC website do not apply to Manchester/GM ICB patients. These figures reflect service availability nationally, not what is being funded locally.
Existing Referrals
For patients already referred to RTC providers before the pause:
- Will still receive funding and assessments when available
- No further funding for referrals made after the pause announcement
- All RTC patients now face 2-3+ year waiting times
- Provider switching is not permitted once on waiting list
Providers No Longer Available
Care ADHD, Harrow Health and Problem Shared can NO LONGER be used for referrals. Problem Shared was removed following a further updated compliance list from the CCG (September 2026). These providers were removed due to non-compliance with NHS GM policies requiring:
- Health checks in CQC-registered facilities within 60 minutes of patient’s home (ADHD medication)
- Face-to-face autism assessments in CQC-registered facilities within 60 minutes of patient’s home (ASD)
✅ Approved Right to Choose Providers
All approved clinics offer both ADHD and ASD assessments.
Children & Young People (up to 18 years)
| Provider | Referral Method |
|---|---|
| Held Health | Online form: held.health/rtc-gp-form |
| The Owl Centre | Form on System1 to be attached to eRS referral |
| Psicon | Online form: psicon.co.uk/nhs/patients |
| The Aspen Clinic | Form on System1 to be attached to eRS referral |
Adults (18+ years)
| Provider | Referral Method |
|---|---|
| Psicon | Online form: psicon.co.uk/nhs/patients |
| Psychiatry UK | Form on System1 to be attached to eRS referral |
| Skylight Psychiatry UK | Dictation to be typed and sent on eRS |
| The Aspen Clinic | Form on System1 to be attached to eRS referral |
Referral Process
- AccuRX templates have been updated with correct provider information
- For online forms: complete the form and submit directly to the provider
- For System1 forms: attach to eRS referral as usual
- For Skylight Psychiatry UK: use Lexacom dictation and send via eRS
📞 Contact Information
Patients should be advised to contact teams directly to chase referrals.
| Service | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| Wigan Adult ADHD Team | 01942 631800 |
| Wigan Adult ASD Team | 01942 764461 |
📋 Patient Management
Use this checklist when managing patients seeking updates or new referrals.
- Inform patient of current waiting times (see table above)
- Explain NHS assessments are paused until at least 31 March 2027
- Clarify provider website wait times are NOT accurate for Manchester/GM ICB
- Advise actual wait times are 2-3+ years for all RTC pathways
- For new Right to Choose referrals:
- Confirm patient age (child vs adult provider list)
- Explain children are no longer seen quicker under RTC
- Offer choice from approved providers (see list above)
- Advise patients cannot switch providers once on waiting list
- Use updated AccuRX templates
- If patient wishes to chase an existing referral:
- Provide contact number for Wigan teams
- Instruct RTC patients to contact their chosen provider directly
- If patient was previously referred to Care ADHD, Harrow Health or Problem Shared:
- Inform patient these providers are no longer available
- Explain this is due to NHS GM policy compliance requirements
- Offer choice from new approved provider list
- Document the advice given in the medical record
- Document all advice given in the medical record
TIP
Patients unable to chase referrals themselves (e.g., due to mental capacity or severe distress) may require clinician intervention.
Outstanding Lexacom Backlog
Patients with outstanding RTC referrals to non-compliant providers (Care ADHD, Harrow Health, Problem Shared) in the Lexacom backlog will be contacted and asked to choose a different provider.