Shared care agreement

After an ADHD ADHD ADHD is a difference in the way a child's brain works. It affects how they pay attention, how much energy they have, and how easily they act on impulse. Read the full definition of ADHD diagnosis, medication is usually started and adjusted by a specialist. Once the dose is stable, the specialist may ask your GP GP Your family doctor. For many families the GP is the first person to talk to, and the person who refers your child on to a specialist. Read the full definition of GP to take over the repeat prescriptions under a shared care agreement, with the specialist still overseeing reviews.

The key thing to know is that shared care is voluntary for the GP. Practices can decline, and some do, particularly after a private assessment Private assessment An assessment you pay for outside the NHS, often because the waiting list is long. Before booking, check how the report would be treated by your NHS services and school. Read the full definition of Private assessment or one arranged under Right to Choose Right to Choose In England, when your GP refers you, you can usually choose which NHS provider you go to. Some families use it to find a shorter wait for an autism or ADHD assessment. Read the full definition of Right to Choose (an England-only route). If that happens, responsibility for prescribing stays with the specialist service.

If your GP declines, ask the specialist service and the GP practice to put in writing how your child will keep getting their medication. The detailed rules are set locally by ICBs, health boards and trusts, so they differ from place to place, and your local prescribing team can tell you what applies where you live.