ADHD & autism assessment waits in Surrey and Sussex
Waits depend on your NHS area. Here's the picture for Surrey and Sussex, what your Right to Choose rights are, and how to get referred. We always show the free NHS route first.
Fastest NHS Right to Choose ADHD assessment here: 26 weeks with The Owl Centre
Fastest autism assessment: 26 weeks with The Owl Centre.
Last checked 20 September 2026 — confirm with the provider. No wait is guaranteed.
2 providers currently report Right to Choose limits in Surrey and Sussex.
- Limited activity - longer waits expected
- IAP budget cap - assessment in excess of 52 weeks
Reported by: Psicon, Psychiatry-UK
Last checked 20 September 2026 — confirm with the provider.
Waits by provider in Surrey and Sussex
| Provider | ADHD assessment | Titration | Autism assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Owl Centre | 26 weeks | 52 weeks | 26 weeks |
| ADHD 360 | 78 weeks | — | — |
Other providers may accept referrals here without publishing a wait. Assessment and titration are separate waits — see below. Order is by shortest published ADHD wait, not a ranking. Last checked 20 September 2026 — confirm with the provider. No wait is guaranteed.
Two waits, not one
There's the wait to be assessed, and a separate wait to be titrated (finding your medication dose). They behave differently, so ask each provider about both.
Your Right to Choose (the law hasn't changed)
- In England you have a legal right to choose any qualified provider that holds an NHS contract for your assessment (the NHS Choice Framework; NHS Standing Rules 2012, regulation 39).
- NHS areas can set annual funding limits ('Indicative Activity Plans'), but NHS England is explicit that these must not restrict your choice of provider.
- If you tell the provider or your NHS area that you won't be able to start treatment within 18 weeks of referral, they must take reasonable steps to offer you an earlier appointment elsewhere. Worth asking about.
How to get referred in Surrey and Sussex
- Your GP makes the referral — you can name any qualifying Right to Choose provider; no Individual Funding Request and no ICB approval is needed.
- There's no required screening-tool score to qualify — but giving your GP a clear, factual description of your symptoms and how they affect daily life (work, home, relationships) makes it easy for them to refer quickly.
- If your GP is unsure, Right to Choose is your legal right — our step-by-step guide explains it, and our free tool writes the letter for you.
Write your free GP referral letterHow Right to Choose works, step by step
General information only — not a diagnosis and not legal advice.
Common questions
How long is the ADHD wait in Surrey and Sussex?
The shortest published NHS Right to Choose ADHD assessment wait in Surrey and Sussex is currently 26 weeks, with The Owl Centre. Other providers here quote longer waits. Last checked 20 September 2026 — confirm with the provider. No wait is guaranteed.
Can I choose a provider outside Surrey and Sussex?
Yes. NHS Right to Choose lets you pick any qualifying provider that holds an NHS contract for the assessment, anywhere in England — many assess online. Your GP makes the referral; no Individual Funding Request is needed.
What if every provider here has a long wait?
You can still ask your GP for a Right to Choose referral and keep your place, stay on your local NHS list, or consider a private assessment if you can afford it. You can also ask about the 18-week rule: if you won't be able to start treatment within 18 weeks of referral, the provider or Surrey and Sussex must take reasonable steps to offer an earlier appointment elsewhere.
Is a private assessment accepted by the NHS afterwards?
Usually, yes, for titration: NHS England says NHS titration services should accept an independent provider's diagnostic report. A GP is not obliged to take on shared-care prescribing afterwards, so ask your practice first.
This is general information, not medical or legal advice. No wait is guaranteed — confirm current details with the provider and your GP. NeuroCompare rankings are never sold. Figures last checked 20 September 2026; we refresh them monthly.