Right To Choose

We do not have Right to Choose as a company just yet but we are in discussions with the NHS exploring this kind of partnership. Just back in the future for an update.

• What is the Right to Choose?

  At Private Therapy Clinic, we support the government’s Right to Choose initiative, where you have a legal right to make decisions about your mental health, reflecting your preferences and circumstances.

  When, for example, you visit your GP regarding your mental health, you should always be offered a choice of which treatment provider you would like to pursue, and an opportunity to discuss these options. You can select the hospital or service you wish to use, as well as the specific practitioner. When it comes to mental health, no one size fits all, and this type of choice can lead to empowerment in your journey towards recovery, and bring you more control, in what can seem like an overwhelming process.

• Why Pick the Right to Choose?

  The Right to Choose initiative has several advantages in your mental healthcare, including:

  • Personalized treatment approach, allowing you the opportunity to choose a clinic or practitioner that resonates with your unique needs.
  • Flexibility in terms of location, timing, and modality of treatment, with options for face-to-face and online sessions.
  • Shorter waiting times and speedier access to therapy or an assessment.
  • Freedom to select your own practitioner, allowing for a more trusting relationship between yourself and your practitioner, which is crucial for positive outcomes in therapy.

  Please note that the ‘Right to Choose’ does not apply to emergency or urgent care cases, where immediate treatment is necessary.

• What Services are Included in Right to Choose at Private Therapy Clinic?

  We recognise that the demand for mental health services within the NHS is extremely high. As such, our clinical service, including diagnostic assessments, e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for children is covered under Right to Choose. We fulfill the Right to Choose criteria of an established mental health provider who:

  • has a commissioning contract with a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) or NHS England.
  • Is led by a consultant or mental healthcare professional.

• How Can I Use My Right to Choose at Private Therapy Clinic?

  Exercising your Right to Choose with us is simple, and requires three steps in order to start the process.

  Step 1: Complete a self-report measure for the suspected presenting issue.
  Step 2: Download and complete the Private Therapy Clinic GP letter document.
  Step 3: Bring both of these to your GP, and if the GP agrees that the presenting issue warrants further treatment or investigation, request to be referred to the Private Therapy Clinic.

• How Does My GP Make a Referral?

  Once you have seen your GP and they have agreed to refer you, your GP must send the following information to info@privatetherapyclinic.com:

  • Completed self-report measures.
  • Completed Private Therapy Clinic GP letter.
  • Concise overview of your medical history.

  Once we have received the referral, we will contact you regarding the next steps.

• What If My GP Refuses to Refer Me?

  Under Right to Choose, all individuals have the legal right to choose where they receive their NHS treatment if clinically appropriate. If your GP is reluctant or refuses to make the referral due to funding reasons, you can have a discussion with them about your rights under Right to Choose and ask them to read the NHS guidelines which advocate patient choice. If this proves unsuccessful, you can reach out to the CCG who has the authority to intervene, or file a complaint with NHS England if things do not progress.

• Are Self-Referrals Accepted?

  Unfortunately, if you wish for your assessment or treatment to be funded by the NHS, then the referral will have to be made by your GP. However, you are more than welcome to self-refer if paying privately.

• Does Right to Choose Cover Costs of Medication?

  Yes. If you have been assessed by a psychiatrist under Right to Choose, and they have prescribed medication as part of your treatment, then all medication costs will be covered under the scheme.

• How Do I Know If I’m Eligible?

  The Right to Choose is available to anyone who is aged 18 or over (we cannot see children or adolescents), with a very simple criteria for eligibility:

  • Referred to secondary care services (care which is delivered by a practitioner with a specialization in a specific condition or field) by a healthcare professional, such as your GP.
  • The service you choose must be suitable for your needs and capable of meeting the requirements presented in the referral.

  Please be aware that the Right to Choose initiative does have several exclusion criteria, including:

  • You are already under mental health care for the same condition.
  • You have been referred to a service sponsored by a local authority, such as a drug and alcohol service (unless commissioned under a Section 75 Agreement).
  • You are seeking crisis or urgent care.
  • You have been detained by the Mental Health Act.
  • You have been admitted to a psychiatric ward.
  • You are currently serving as a member of the armed forces.

• How Can I Contact Private Therapy Clinic to Discuss Right to Choose?

  If you would like to talk to someone about Right to Choose, please get in touch with the Private Therapy Clinic on Whatsapp message at: +447511116565 email, chat bot or book online to arrange an appointment.

• References

  NHS. (n.d.). Your choices in the NHS. nhs.uk. Link

  NHS. (n.d.). How you can access NHS mental health services. nhs.uk. Link