Private ADHD Prescribing

“ADHD Shared Care Agreements” with private providers

Sometimes the care of a patient is shared between two doctors, usually a GP and a specialist, and there is a formalised written ‘shared care agreement’ setting out the position of each, to which both parties have willingly agreed. Where these arrangements are in place, GP providers can arrange the prescriptions and appropriate investigations, and the results are fully dealt with by clinicians with the necessary competence under the shared care arrangement. There is NHS guidance available about this.

Shared Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principle of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care. Shared Care is currently set up as an NHS service, and entering into a shared care arrangement may have implications around governance and quality assurance as well as promoting health inequalities. A private patient seeking access to shared care should therefore have their care completely transferred to the NHS. Shared care may be appropriate where private providers are providing commissioned NHS services and where appropriate shared care arrangements are in place.

All shared care arrangements are voluntary, so even where agreements are in place, practices can decline shared care requests on clinical and capacity grounds. The responsibility for the patient’s care and ongoing prescribing then remains the responsibility of the private provider.

As a Practice we are following the BMA guidance, around private ADHD shared care agreements. Presently we are not commissioned for most private ADHD services and are therefore, not required to sign up for all private shared care agreements offering ADHD care, other than with Psychiatry-UK.

We understand that this is frustrating, but presently and until we are authorised to include other ADHD services we are abiding to the BMA guidance.

Patients suspecting ADHD must consult with their GP, who will arrange a Psychiatry-UK referral for assessment.