What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour.
Please read the information below to understand your options if you would like to be referred to an ADHD specialist.
GP’s are unable to make a diagnosis of ADHD or start any ADHD medications.
In view of the extremely high demand for Adult ADHD services, please be aware that the waiting times for services can vary.
Patients Journey
- GP appointment or Occupational Therapist Appointment
- Secretaries or Clinician Signpost Patients to LSMP ADHD website information
- Complete Form – Patients will receive a text message with the email address to send this back to
- Patients MUST confirm their preferred Service choice (see options below)
- Once the Secretaries have received both the completed form and service choice confirmation – this is passed back to the referring Clinician
- Clinicians then confirm if the referral is to go ahead and if so, provide a letter / complete the relevant service form.
- Referral is processed and confirmation text is sent to the patient
Service Choices
Assessment and Medication Temporarily closed as of 11.10.2024
RTC Assessment and Medication
Online-Only service
RTC Assessment and Medication Online Service Only
RTC Assessment only
No Medication available under RTC
RTC Assessment only
No Medication available under RTC – variable clinic locations
RTC Face to Face Assessment and Medication Variable clinic locations – Not in Leeds
Please be aware that not all Right to Choose providers offer Medication Titration. Please keep this in mind when choosing a service.
& If you are Assessed and Diagnosed by a service that does not offer medication under the RTC and you then wish to start medication, you will require a re-referral to an alternative service that provides this.
What is the
Right to Choose pathway?
The RTC pathway, gives patients the right to choose their service provider for mental health & physical health conditions. More information about the Right to Choose pathway can be found on the NHS England website.
If the eligibility criteria are met, the NHS will fund your assessment and treatment.
We recommend the following link for detailed RTC information regarding ADHD pathways: How to get an NHS Assessment via ‘Right to Choose’
Please note the pathway only applies to services in England. The pathway does not apply to services that are part of NHS Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
How do I request a
Right to Choose referral?
When referring via the NHS under the right to choose, a GP or Occupational Therapist appointment is the first step.
The Clinician will ask you questions relating to your symptoms to determine whether an assessment is clinically necessary.
The Clinician will need to review your ASRS form. If you have not already done so, please download and complete: ASRS Form to complete. Please return this to the email below.
If the Clinician determines that an assessment is required, you can advise them in the appointment that you wish to exercise your right to choose.
You MUST confirm your choice of Right to Choose service.
You can also confirm this by emailing [email protected] or calling the secretaries on 0113 295 4488 using option 2
Shared Care Agreements
At the end of the titration period a Shared Care Agreement is sent to the GP by the ADHD service. This is an agreement made between the ADHD Specialist and the GP which enables the GP to take over the prescribing. Most referring GPs are happy to take this on, but there is no obligation for them to do so. There are also some areas of England where certain medications cannot be prescribed by a GP and they are legally unable to accept the SCA.
A Shared Care Agreement can only be set up after the following conditions are met:
The patient must have received an ADHD diagnosis by a specialist and has been monitored by the specialist until stabilized on medication. The patient must continue to have annual reviews with the specialist.
The Specialist may request physical health monitoring to be carried out by the GP. E.g. Blood tests and/or ECG.
The frequency of this monitoring will be determined by the specialist and the GP will follow clinical guidelines. Some services may offer their own monitoring.
The Shared Care Agreement documentation must be received from the Specialist and will form a part of your Medical Record.
Occasionally, E.G. if a patients circumstances change, the GP may hand the prescribing back to the Specialist. This is at the GP’s discretion and the patient would be fully informed.
There is some variation nationally between GP practices regarding Shared Care Agreements.
This may mean that any existing Shared Care Agreements held with a previous GP would be at the discretion of LSMP to continue and will be subject to local prescribing guidelines.
Similarly, a Shared Care Agreement set up with LSMP, may not be continued if you change GP practices in the future.
Private ADHD Assessments
Due to the extremely high waiting times, many patients are now opting to have a Private ADHD Assessment.
Please be aware – Patients will need to arrange/book their Private ADHD Assessments with a service of their choice. GP’s can provide a private referral letter if this is a requirement for services or health insurance purposes.
It is important to note that if you undergo a Private ADHD Assessment this will be self-funded.
You will have to cover the costs of your ADHD Assessment. Annual Reviews. Medication Reviews. Private Prescription Fees.
If you would like your GP to take over the prescription – The above conditions need to be met for a Shared Care Agreement to be considered (please see Shared Care Agreement information above).
If the GP agrees to a Shared Care Agreement with the Private Specialist. You will still need to attend and pay for any Reviews. Your prescription will be changed to the NHS fee. If you wish for all your treatment to be under the NHS – You will need to be re-referred to an NHS service (please see the Service Choices above).
A Referral to an NHS service can be sent with a copy of your original diagnosis report.
It is important to be aware that some Private Services ADHD Diagnosis Reports are not recognised by the NHS.
This means, should you wish to change your care to the NHS, the NHS Specialist may request that you undergo a new assessment.
International Students / Medication Adderall
Some countries, such as the US may prescribe Adderall to treat ADHD. Unfortunately, Adderall cannot be prescribed by an NHS Clinician in the UK. However, whilst in the UK, you may be able to access alternative ADHD Medications. Adderral may still be available via a Private Prescription from a Private ADHD Specialist.
Please see the Private ADHD Assessments information above.
Private or NHS referrals
If you have a current ADHD diagnosis and are on medication and you wish to arrange medication via the NHS after arriving in the UK, you will need to be referred to an NHS Titration service. For an NHS referral it is a good idea to get as much documentation as possible from your current doctor. However, it is possible that you will have to complete some diagnostic testing again, even with a prior diagnosis. It may take some time to access NHS ADHD Treatment as the waiting lists for services are long. Prescriptions from your overseas Psychiatrist will not be valid to be fulfilled by a UK Pharmacy.
If you wish to seek a Private referral – Please see the Private ADHD Assessment information above.
Update RE ADHD Medication: National Shortage
In Autumn of 2023, the Government announced that there were national supply issues affecting medications for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) The shortage of these products was caused by a combination of manufacturing issues and an increase in global demand. Please see the below link which highlights supply disruptions and a full list of the medications affected.
NHS – National Supply Shortage of Medicines for ADHD
Further information / Useful Links
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave. GP’s are unable to make a diagnosis of Autism. You will need to be referred for an Assessment with a Clinical Psychologist. Due to the increasing demand for Adult Autism services it is our aim as a practice to help you understand your options if you would like to be referred to an Autism specialist.
Patients Journey
1 GP appointment or an Occupational Therapist appointment
2 Secretaries or Clinician Signpost Patients to LSMP ASD website information
3 Complete AQ-10 Autism Spectrum Quotient Patients should have received a text with the email address to send the form back to
4 Patients MUST confirm their preferred Service Choice (see options on the drop down tab below)
5 Once the Secretaries have received both the completed form and service choice confirmation – this is passed back to the referring Clinician
6 Clinician’s then confirm if the referral is to go ahead and if so, provide referral letter / complete the relevant service form
7 Referral is processed and confirmation text is sent to the patient
Service Choices
RTC Assessment and Medication
Online-Only service
RTC Assessment only
No Medication available under RTC
RTC Assessment only
No Medication available under RTC
What is the
Right to Choose pathway?
The RTC pathway, gives patients the right to choose their service provider for mental health & physical health conditions.
More information about the Right to Choose pathway can be found on the NHS England website Right to Choose – Information If the eligibility criteria are met, the NHS will fund your assessment.
Please note the pathway only applies to services in England. The pathway does not apply to services that are part of NHS Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
How do I request a
Right to Choose referral?
When referring via the NHS under the right to choose, a GP or Occupational Therapist appointment is the first step.
The Clinician will ask you questions relating to your symptoms to determine whether an assessment is clinically necessary.
The Clinician will need to review your ASRS form. If you have not already done so, please download and complete: ASRS Form to complete. Please return this to the email below.
If the Clinician determines that an assessment is required, you can advise them in the appointment that you wish to exercise your right to choose.
You MUST confirm your choice of Right to Choose service.
You can also confirm this by emailing [email protected] or calling the secretaries on 0113 295 4488 using option 2
Private Autism Assessments
Patients can opt to have a Private Autism Assessment.
Please be aware – Patients will need to arrange/book their Private Autism Assessments with a service of their choice.
GP’s can provide a private referral letter if this is a requirement for services or health insurance purposes. It is important to note that if you undergo a Private Autism Assessment this will be self-funded.
You will have to cover the costs of your Autism Assessment and any follow-up appointments.
It is important to be aware that some Private Services Autism Diagnosis Reports are not recognised by the NHS.
This means, should you wish to change your care to the NHS, the NHS Specialist may request that you undergo a new assessment.
Specialist Autism Funding – Independent Funding Request (IFR)
In some cases, after a diagnosis, patients may wish to access specialist autism services, such as Autism Specific Counselling.
These services are not routinely covered by the NHS, and instead can be paid for privately, some services start at around £55, per hour session.
However, you may be eligible to apply for an Independent Funding Request (IFR) through the Leeds CCG commissioning group, if your circumstances meet the criteria for exception.
The process of applying for funding begins with your GP, who will first discuss your request, current diagnosis, and suitability for funding. If it decided to proceed with an IFR request, the GP will then complete the required paperwork.
It is usually requested that you supply a supporting statement, regarding your personal circumstances, as this can support with an application. The GP will then send the information to the IFR panel for consideration.
The response usually takes about 6 weeks, so a full request, including GP time and appointment could take up to 8 weeks to complete.
The ICB will then write to the GP and confirm whether funding has been granted or declined. We will inform you of the outcome in either case.
If successful, the GP will make an appropriate referral for counselling to one of the approved providers, such as Specialists Autism Service.
Medication
Whilst there is no specific medication for Autism. Medication can be prescribed for patients experiencing other mental health conditions such as anxiety, or depression when clinically appropriate and discussed with a health care professional. If you feel you need support for a mental health problem, please contact the practice for support.