NHS Right to Choose

For anyone living in England and with a registered GP practice in England, you have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and team.

The services that you can choose from must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. have an existing contract in place to deliver the same assessment with the NHS (either an ICB or directly with NHS England)
  2. must have a named consultant or clinical lead

Skylight Psychiatry meets all of the above criteria to be a ‘qualified provider’.

We have a contract with Waveney ICB to deliver Adult Autism Diagnostic Assessments (indicating that our assessments are of a quality and price that meet the requirements of delivering to the NHS).

Our Clinical Director, Dr Rejaul Islam is our named consultant psychiatrist and lead for Autism Assessments.

Please note that we are unable to complete autism or ADHD assessments for anyone under the age of 18.

When can you not use NHS Right to Choose?

  • You need urgent or emergency treatment
  • You already receive care and treatment for the condition
  • The organisation or clinical team you have chosen does not provide the right care for your condition
  • You are a prisoner or on temporary release from prison
  • You are detained in prescribed accommodation such as a court, secure training centre, immigration removal centre or young offender’s institute
  • You are detained in a secure hospital setting
  • You are a serving member of the armed forces
  • You are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007)

How to exercise your NHS Right to Choose Skylight Psychiatry

Step 1 If you are experiencing difficulties in your life that you think may be due to Autistic traits, print and complete an ASQ10 questionnaire. Please note that an assessment is warranted only if you meet the threshold.

Download the ASQ10 questionnaire

Step 2 Complete the attached letter and amend it to include your details and your GP information. To make it more clear, we have highlighted all parts of the letter that need amending in red.

Download the letter

Step 3 Visit your GP with details of the AQ10 questionnaire, and discuss your problems in further detail. Your GP may wish to review your physical health and will, as part of their assessment review other possible causes. If your GP feels that you require an Autism Diagnostic Assessment, they can then refer to a service that they feel appropriate.

It is always worth asking how long the waiting times are for an assessment to allow you to discuss with your GP alternative options that may offer you faster assessments. At this point, you may inform your GP that you intend to exercise your NHS Right to Choose a service and that you choose Skylight Psychiatry.

Step 4 Choosing Skylight Psychiatry as an option. If your GP agrees to referring to Skylight Psychiatry, they can follow the instructions below.

How your GP can refer to Skylight Psychiatry under NHS Right to Choose

Step 1 We will require a letter from your GP that contains all of the information below:

  • Your personal details (including email address)
  • An summary of your current issues/difficulties
  • Attach the completed AQ10 questionnaire (or an AQ50)
  • The need for an Autism Diagnostic Assessment, under NHS Right to Choose legislation
  • Stating that the referral is to ‘Skylight Psychiatry’, (with address) ‘10 Manor House, Lutyens Close, Lychpit, Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8AG’
  • Attaching summary of medical history and medication

(Please note the referral needs to come from a GP and that if any of the above information is not received, we cannot accept the referral).

Step 2 Email the above information to:
Skylightpsych.righttochoose.referrals@nhs.net

Or post to:
Skylight Psychiatry
10 Manor House
Lutyens Close
Lychpit
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 8AG

Step 3 We will confirm receipt of the referral.