ADHD – Adults
Services for adults with suspected ADHD have very long waits both locally and nationally. Your GP may not be able to enter into “shared care” arrangements with online/remote/other providers for adult ADHD care, and therefore may not recommend an NHS referral to these providers.
Or they may be able to refer to alternative providers “for assessment/diagnosis only”, but not able to share care for treatment. They may recommend that a referral to the local provider is in your best interests, even though the waiting list is long. Your GP may suggest a referral to the private sector, but would not be expected to enter into “shared care” with private specialists, as the NHS GP.
This is a “commissioning gap”, where the services available on the NHS do not meet the needs of the population, and it has been raised locally and nationally. You may wish to raise it yourself, e.g. with your MP and/or with the ICB.
Email
bobicb.plannedcare@nhs.net
Please note that GPs are under no obligation to refer patient’s if they do not believe that the proposed assessment/treatment pathway is in the patient’s best interests.
ADHD – Right to Choose
If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team, this includes for referrals relating to Autism and ADHD assessment.
This service is offered through the NHS and is free.
Further information can be found here.
Please find below details of two providers under the “Right to Choose pathway”. There are other providers available, you can find details of these by searching “Right to Choose pathway for ADHD” – the waiting time to be seen varies with each provider.
Once you have chosen who you would like to be referred to, you need to complete the form on their website and return this to the surgery for the attention of the Medical Secretary, as the referral needs to come from your GP. On receipt the Medical Secretary will be able to action the referral.
https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose/
Right to choose ADHD & autism assessments | Clinical Partners (clinical-partners.co.uk)
ADHD Medication and Shared Care Agreement
A shared care agreement is an agreement between you, your ADHD psychiatrist, and your GP, whereby the care and treatment you receive for ADHD are shared between your psychiatrist and your GP. This is obtained through an agreement with you once your ADHD medication is stabilised and optimised.
A shared care agreement allows your GP to take over prescribing your medications and basic monitoring of your physical health as directed by your ADHD psychiatrist. This will be after your medications have been titrated and stabilised by your consultant. Your psychiatrist will remain responsible for reviewing your care at annual intervals as well as at times where you experience physical or mental health complications which may be related to ADHD or the medication you take to manage the symptoms of ADHD.
In order for us to take over the prescribing of your medication we require a letter from your consultant and a signed shared care agreement in place. A routine GP appointment will need to be booked to discuss these documents and the way forward.