Referring a Patient to KT Healthcare
This page is for GPs and healthcare professionals who wish to refer a patient to KT Healthcare for an autism assessment under NHS right to choose. To ensure patients are referred to the most appropriate service, we review all referrals against our clinical eligibility criteria before acceptance.
KT Healthcare is commissioned by Devon ICB to carry out Autism Assessments via Right to Choose for Adults and Children.
Patient criteria for an assessment
NB: All criteria related to 'recent' refers to the last 12 months
- Registered with a UK GP practice
- Not seeking a second opinion following a previous NHS autism assessment
- Aged 5 years or above
- Able to communicate at a conversational level in English
- Access to a suitable device and private internet connection
- Device requirements are met: laptops/desktops (15”)for SpLD assessments, tablets (10”) for autism/ADHD (mobile phones cannot be used)
- Able to take part in an online appointment with camera on and provide identification
- No significant visual or hearing impairment preventing online assessment
- No diagnosis of learning disability or impaired cognitive functioning
- No significant intellectual impairment (IQ above 70)
- No known neurological condition or recent brain injury requiring alternative assessment pathways
- No current severe substance misuse that would affect assessment reliability
- Not currently undergoing active treatment for an eating disorder, or have been recently discharged from a specialist eating disorder clinic
- No acute mental health crisis or active safety concerns includng suicidal intent or severe self-harm
- No recent psychiatric inpatient admission or intensive crisis service involvement
- Not currently experiencing severe or unmanaged mental health difficulties that require urgent specialist care
- Not involved in complex legal or safeguarding proceedings including local authority involvement
- Not currently serving in the armed forces
How do I refer my patient for NHS Right to Choose?
You can refer your patient to KT Healthcare for an autism assessment under NHS right to choose.
Step 1
Discuss Right to Choose
Discuss the patient’s concerns and confirm they wish to exercise their legal NHS right to choose for an autism assessment.
Please ensure you have reviewed our referral criteria above, as we are required to operate in line with our contractual requirements.
Step 2
Make the referral
Please email your surgery’s standardised referral letter or form, along with a copy of the patient’s medical summary, to:
referrals@kirsoptaylorhealthcare.com
Please ensure the referral includes the patient’s (or parent/guardian’s) email address and contact number.
Please note that we do not have a standard referral form for you to complete.
If we require any further information, we will contact you.
Step 3
We take it from here
We will always acknowledge receipt of the referral and confirm that it has been processed within 10 working days.
Once the referral is received, our team will review it and contact the patient directly to complete screening questionnaires. Please advise the patient that this process can take up to two weeks. If they have not heard from us after this time, they should contact us directly.
We will remain in contact with the patient regarding progress. It is important that patients are not accepted at the point of referral, as they may be discharged at a later stage.
Right to choose assessment
14-16 week wait time
Note: This is a minimum wait time and may vary depending on your local Integrated Care Board (ICB). Timelines begin from receipt of completed questionnaires and all required information.