NHS ADHD Referral – Adult (18 years +)
For Adult ADHD referrals please submit a patient triage form requesting an ADHD assessment, we will send you a self assessment questionnaire and a lifestyle questionnaire to you. Once returned, we will book you a 30 minute appointment with your GP to discuss onward referral. If you have a heart condition we will also invite you for an ECG before your GP appointment.
Waiting Times
The waiting times for the main NHS providers of ADHD assessment is currently over 5 years in Bedfordshire and Luton.
Right to Choose
We can refer you to alternative providers through the “Right to Choose”, these are private health organisations that have be contacted by the NHS for patient to use. Under “Right to Choose” these private health organisations can by the patient even if they are not located in Bedfordshire. This can mean you may need to travel to that provider.
You can find out more information about “Right to Choose” by visiting https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/. If you wish to use a right to choose provider please select your provider and bring that information to the appointment for you, the GP is not able to select a “Right to Choose” provider for you.
When choosing your Right to Choose (RTC) provider, prescribing medication can sometimes work differently than with standard NHS Services.
If your RTC provider has an NHS Contract that includes prescribing, they may issue NHS prescriptions directly, which can be dispensed at any pharmacy. They will inform us they have started a medication but we wont be directly involved in the prescribing.
Some RTC providers are unable to prescribe medication and can only issue a private prescription unless a shared care agreement (SCA) is in place.
Before choosing a provider, ask them
Do you provide NHS Prescriptions, or will I need a private prescription and what will be the cost of the medication?
Do you arrange the shared care agreements with GPs?
If my GP refuses an SCA, what are my options?
ADHD Diagnosis and Medication, NHS Providers
Where a diagnosis of ADHD is given the provider will provide treatment/medication; once stabilised they may request that the Practice undertakes a shared care agreement to continue prescribing any medication on their behalf, though the provider remains overall responsible and will undertake periodic reviews. There is no obligation on the Practice to accept these requests – the default position is that the on-going treatment and medication will continue to fully reside with the provider.
(NHS) Shared Care Agreement
A Shared Care Agreement is an agreement between the patient, the NHS Specialist, and the NHS GP, enabling the care and treatment for a specific health condition to be shared between the hospital and your GP. This will occur with your agreement and when your condition is stable or predictable.
A Shared Care Agreement contains information about your medicine, guidance on prescribing and monitoring and the responsibilities of the patient, the NHS specialist, and the NHS GP.
Please note there is no obligation nor mandatory requirement for a GP to enter into a Shared Care Agreement.
Private ADHD Diagnosis
You may choose to select and be referred to a private provide for your ADHD assessment due to the long waiting times for an NHS Appointment, or simply out of preference. In this instance, the prescribing and monitoring of any medication must continue under the care of the Private Provider.
We are only able to take over prescribing ADHD medication which has been started by an NHS Service once we have an NHS Shared Care Agreement. A patient must be diagnosed with ADHD by an NHS specialist, who confirms that the prescribing of the ADHD medicine is in line with NHS Criteria.
If the patient wishes to transfer their ADHD treatment to the NHS, they will need to be referred to the NHS Mental Health Specialist Team for assessment and confirmation of their ADHD diagnosis. The NHS consultant will ascertain whether the NHS Criteria for a prescription of ADHD medication has been met.
If this criterion is met. A Shared Care Agreement can be formed by the NHS consultant and the GP. Until this is established the clinical responsibility of prescribing and monitoring of the patient, and their medication should remain with the Private Provider.