NHS & neurodevelopmental
Referral & waiting-list toolkit.
“There is a long wait” and “this individual case has been reviewed for clinical priority” are not necessarily the same question. Map the pathway before deciding what needs challenging.
A4 printable worksheet. The PDF is a practical working tool; keep this web page for guidance and source links.
This tool helps organise a referral and the questions around it. It does not decide whether a child meets diagnostic criteria, whether an assessment is clinically urgent or which provider is clinically appropriate.
1. Map the referral
| Referral type | |
|---|---|
| Date referral made | |
| Referrer | |
| Provider / service holding referral | |
| Integrated care board (ICB) / commissioner | |
| Referral accepted? | |
| Current estimated wait / position | |
| Any review / prioritisation decision? |
2. What decision are you actually dealing with?
Administrative / pathway issue
Referral not received, incorrect route, provider eligibility, missing paperwork, commissioning restriction, queue position or unclear ownership.
Clinical decision
A clinician/service has assessed information and decided whether the individual case meets criteria for clinical prioritisation or another clinical action.
Decision / problem in this case
3. Evidence relevant to the decision
| Functional issue / risk | Current impact | Professional who knows | Existing evidence | Missing evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4. Focused questions
- Who currently holds the referral?
- What decision has been made, by whom and on what date?
- Is the problem a general waiting-time issue or an individual prioritisation decision?
- If a clinical review occurred, what information was available to the reviewer?
- If additional professional evidence can be considered, what is the route for submitting it?
- If the barrier is commissioning/capacity rather than clinical priority, who controls that issue?
- Will changing route/provider affect queue position or require a fresh referral? Obtain provider-specific confirmation rather than assuming.
5. Pathway contact log
| Date | Organisation | Person / team | Question | Answer / decision | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sources & review
Last reviewed: 16 August 2026. This resource is practical information for England, not legal or clinical advice. Check the linked source if your situation turns on a deadline, appeal right or legal interpretation.
NHS — how to access mental health services / patient choiceNHS England — patient choice guidanceUse this with
Keep the evidence connected to the next action.
Need the wider pathway guide?
Read our autism & ADHD referral/assessment pathway guidance.