ADHD & Autism Referrals
Children
ADHD referrals for children are usually made by someone who knows your child well, like a SENCO, teacher, school nurse, health visitor, or social worker.
Local NHS services often reject GP referrals because they need school evidence.
Please speak to your child’s school/SENCO first – they usually coordinate the referral and gather the right information.
Adults
Request to book an appointment with us to talk about your concerns and the best way to get assessed – the best way to do this is on PATCHs
Right to Choose (RTC)
As an NHS patient in England, you can choose your mental health provider for your first appointment if they have an NHS contract.
We can explain how RTC works and help you check if a provider is eligible. We do not recommend specific companies, but ADHD UK lists providers. link
- Important:
- Some clinics diagnose but do not prescribe or adjust medication. If you choose RTC, pick a provider that can prescribe and manage medication.
- We cannot do tests or prescribe medication requested by Right to Choose providers
See information below for more about shared care.
Private (Self-Funded) Assessments
If you pay for a private assessment, the private specialist stays responsible for prescribing and monitoring.
ADHD medication must be started by a specialist. A private report does not mean we will prescribe.
If you wish to move to NHS prescribing after a private diagnosis, you will need a new NHS referral. While waiting for an NHS appointment, the private specialist remains responsible for all prescriptions and medication monitoring.
Shared Care
- Shared care means your GP takes over prescribing and monitoring after a specialist starts and stabilises treatment.
- Shared care is not automatic. It needs agreement from you, the specialist, and the GP practice.
- GPs do not have to agree. We follow local NHS safety rules and do not accept shared care from private or Right To Choose providers
- Any tests (bloods, ECGs) for ADHD medication should be arranged by the specialist.
Useful links
Neurodevelopmental Pathway :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals (Children and Young People)
Right to Choose – ADHD UK (Current providers of “Right to Choose” ADHD and Autism Assessments)
Shared Care and Prescriptions
Sometimes your GP can take over your prescription and monitoring after a hospital specialist has started and stabilised your treatment. This is called shared care.
Shared care is not automatic. It needs agreement from:
- You
- Your specialist team
- Your GP Practice
Please note, GPs do not have to agree to shared care. It is voluntary and depends on the practice. We will only agree if it is safe and follows local NHS rules.
At Newton Drive Health Centre, we follow Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS guidance. We look at:
- Patient safety
- What monitoring is needed
- Local protocols
- Our capacity
We usually do not take over prescribing from private providers or Right to Choose services. These services often do not meet local safety and monitoring standards.
If we cannot accept shared care:
- We will still provide all your other usual NHS care.
- The NHS service that started your treatment (including Right to Choose providers) will keep prescribing and doing any tests.
If you need anymore information or clarification you can contact our admin team.