ADHD/ASD assessment, referral & medication information
Patient Guide to ADHD / ASD
As a practice, we are committed to supporting patients with neurodevelopmental diagnoses, both children and adults.
This information is for those patients who are concerned or suspect that they may have ADHD/ASD and would like to be referred for an ADHD/ASD assessment.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can affect many aspects of a person’s life. However, diagnosis is complex, and GPs are not able to make a diagnosis of ADHD and a referral is needed to an ADHD specialist. If an ADHD diagnosis is subsequently made by the specialist, they may choose to offer medications to help manage the symptoms and these medications require careful monitoring.
This guide will explain how the referral process works, how referrals are initiated and what you can expect if you are diagnosed. This information is based on national and local guidance, specifically NICE guidance.
Referral pathways:
NHS Pathway: Mindworks www.mindworks-surrey.org Provides support, advice and resources as well as diagnosis for Children and Young People.
NHS Right to Choose: Designated private providers that hold an NHS contract approved by Surrey and Sussex ICB. Please visit https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose to choose a provider assured by Surrey and Sussex ICB. Wait times for assessments can now be around 1 year and not all providers will prescribe ADHD medication or accept both ADHD and ASD referrals.
Private Providers: Patient choice but Shared Care Agreements for subsequent medication prescriptions may not be available.
Please visit https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose to choose a provider assured by Surrey and Sussex ICB.
Age-group pathways:
Pre-School Children: Concerns need to be discussed with the Child’s Health Visitor of Early Years setting. NHS referrals for ADHD are not available for children under the age of 6. Health Visitors can be contacted on 0300 247 0025
School Age Children: Young people are now supported in schools with a needs-based rather than diagnosis-based service. No diagnosis is required for support at school. The only clinical need for a referral would be for the consideration of medication or complex needs. If a referral is needed, it is strongly recommended that is made by someone with day-to-day knowledge of the child, that is through schools via the school SENCo. Schools can refer to Mindworks directly using the online portal. If a Right to Choose provider is required, patients must choose a preferred provider and complete all necessary pre-assessment forms, with the help of the SENCo before they request a referral by emailing syheartlandsicb.admin.chobhamandwestend@nhs.net attaching the completed pre-assessment forms.
Home-schooled children: the referral is undertaken by the GP. Patients who request a referral for ADHD/ASD diagnosis can be referred through the NHS pathway, the NHS Right to Choose pathway or to a private provider. Patients must choose a preferred provider and complete all necessary pre-assessment forms before they request a referral by emailing syheartlandsicb.admin.chobhamandwestend@nhs.net attaching the completed pre-assessment forms.
Adults aged 18+: the referral is undertaken by the GP. Patients who request a referral for ADHD/ASD diagnosis can be referred through the NHS Right to Choose pathway or to a private provider. Patients must choose a preferred provider and complete all necessary pre-assessment forms before they request a referral by emailing syheartlandsicb.admin.chobhamandwestend@nhs.net attaching the completed pre-assessment forms.
Medication:
If the Provider confirms a diagnosis of ADHD, they may initiate treatment and may offer medication; initially this will need to be obtained directly from the specialist consultant and fees may apply. Once they are confident the patient is stabilised on their medication, they may feel it is appropriate for the patient to obtain their medication from the GP Surgery through a Shared Care Agreement.
In order for us to prescribe this type of medication, the consultant will need to send a completed, standardised, ICB Shared Care Agreement to your GP. This is an agreement between a Consultant and a GP which stipulates any monitoring needed to continue to prescribe the ADHD medication safely.
Please note, the GP is only able to continue prescribing and monitoring a patient if an up-to-date Shared Care Agreement is in place. Annual reviews with the consultant must be attended as a condition of a Shared Care Agreement. If annual reviews with the consultant cease, medication prescriptions will also be stopped.
Please note there is no obligation nor mandatory requirement for a GP to enter into any Shared Care Agreement.
Signposting Information on ADHD/ASD:
ADHD UK: A charity offering free advice and information on ADHD and Right to Choose referrals www.adhduk.co.uk
ADHD Foundation: The UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering services for those who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more www.adhdfoundation.org.uk
Mind: ADHD and mental health www.mind.org.uk
NHS Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) www.nhs.uk/conditions
National Autistic Society: www.autism.org.uk