Referral process and medications
You have asked the GP to refer you for an ADHD assessment and/or treatment service provider under your Right to Choose (RTC) or as a private referral. Your GP will write the referral and provide it to you or send it directly to your nominated provider at your request. If you have any queries about the referral, please contact your chosen provider directly.
Right to choose providers are usually private provider companies that hold an NHS contract with one or more NHS commissioners. When choosing a right to choose or private provider it is important to consider the following points.
Choice
The GP cannot choose for you. You will need to research the options and make the choice yourself. One point of reference is ADHD UK: www.adhduk.co.uk
Referral
The number of fright to choose and private providers for ADHD is large, and each provider may have its own referral process. It is not practical for the GP to complete a different referral process for every patient who chooses a different provider. Most providers need a core set of information so the GP will ask you to complete a questionnaire. They will also ask you to complete an ADHD self-assessment score. You will be sent the Think ADHD assessment tool on the following website – www.thinkadhd.co.uk
Requests for tests and further assessments
Some right to choose and private providers may ask you to contact your GP to carry out physical checks (such as weight and BP). They may also require you to have a detailed clinical assessment by the GP as part of the referral. The GP will not undertake these checks or clinical assessments as part of a referral for ADHD treatment. It is the responsibility of the provider to do these as part of their assessment.
Some provides require a cardiac screen for all patients commencing medication and an ECG when the patient has an existing cardiac concern the practice will not be able to conduct these for patients.
If the chosen provider is based remotely and they require the GP to conduct any patient checks during the assessment process or as part of an annual assessment, the practice will not be able to do this as it is the providers responsibility to undertake these checks.
Diagnosis and follow-up
Most right to choose and private providers exclusively perform remote and/or online assessments and the local NHS ADHD services may not have sufficient confidence in these diagnostic processes to accept their diagnoses. Therefore, local NHS Services may not take over your care unless they have completed their own assessment and diagnostic process.
Please be aware that your diagnosis from a right to choose and private provider may not be universally accepted, and you may find you cannot seek treatment and follow-up directly with local services.
Prescriptions
If you are diagnosed with ADHD the right to choose and private providers may suggest medications for you. The medications used for ADHD are restricted so the GP practice cannot routinely prescribe them. The specialist service is responsible for prescribing them. They can request that the GP prescribes them under an agreement called a ‘shared care agreement’ but it is unlikely that the GP will be able to enter into this agreement with a right to choose and private provider for reasons of patient safety and resources.
There is always a risk with right to choose and private providers that the business stops trading or the right to choose provider has their NHS contract removed. If this happens the care and any prescriptions for a patient would more than likely cease which is another reason your GP may not feel it is safe, or good practice to enter into an agreement to prescribe for your chosen provider.
Summary
When you are choosing your right to choose and private provider you may find it useful to use this information to support your decision making. It is also recommended that you share this information with your chosen provider so that they are aware that they will need to complete all patient checks and clinical assessments and any prescribing is unlikely to be taken over by the practice.
To request a referral to a private provider please complete the form below:
To request a referral to a right to choose provider please complete the form below:
Please send the completed form to – gmicb-mh.slgp.reception@nhs.net
with the completed ADHD Assessment tool if not have returned this already. (www.thinkadhd.co.uk)