In recent years there has been increased awareness about ADHD resulting a large increase in request for referrals.  This has unfortunately caused long delays for assessments in the NHS services with waiting times of several years in many cases.  These delays can be very distressing, and many people are now requesting referrals to other providers under NHS right to choose rules.

If you wish to be referred for an ADHD assessment under NHS right to choose, please look at information on this link and select a provider.  Please check that your chosen provider can also prescribe if you think you might need medication for ADHD.

Right to Choose - ADHD UK

Please select the service to which you would like to be referred and complete the required forms on the provider’s website.  Most right to choose providers have forms on their websites that you will need to complete.  Once this is done, please book an appointment to see a clinician to request a referral.  Bring the forms with you and email a copy to the practice so they can be attached with your referral. 

To email the practice use this email:  northantsicb.saxonspiresadmin@nhs.net

State your full name, date of birth and clearly advise that you are requesting an NHS right to choose referral for ADHD, stating your chosen provider.  If you have booked to see a GP, please add the details of your appointment so our staff can inform the correct GP.

As per new guidance we will not be able to share care with any private or right to choose providers.  All prescriptions will need to be done by the specialist for the full duration of your treatment.

In children, ADHD is predominantly an educational issue, and most referrals should be done by schools.   Unfortunately, due to long waits in the nhs service we are getting more requests for NHS right to choose referrals to private providers.

For any ADHD or ASD referral for a child, the parent and school pack will need to be completed in full and submitted with the referral.  This is usually done by schools and submitted by schools. 

To request a right to choose ADHD referral for your child please select a provider who can offer diagnosis (and medication if required) for your child’s age group.  See table on this link:  Right to Choose - ADHD UK

The parent or guardian will need to go on the website for their chosen provider, complete the necessary forms and then make an appointment to see a GP and bring all the forms with them to request a right to choose referral to their chosen provider.   Please also email a copy of the forms to the Practice.

To email the practice use this email:  northantsicb.saxonspiresadmin@nhs.net

state your child’s full name, date of birth, contact details and clearly advise that you are requesting an NHS right to choose referral for ADHD.   State your chosen provider and attach all required forms.  If you have booked to see a clinician at the practice please add the details of your appointment.

All prescribing will remain the responsibility of the right to choose provider and the GP will not be able to issue medication under shared care.

All ADHD drugs are classified as Amber – (requiring specialist care) in Northamptonshire and are subject to shared care rules. This means that they cannot be prescribed independently by a GP and need to be overseen by a specialist.  These medications require monitoring due to potentially serious side effects. 

When patients are stable on treatment, prescribing may only be transferred to a GP in line with agreed shared care protocols.  We currently only have agreed shared care with NHFT (local NHS provider). If patients are seen by private providers, prescribing should remain with this provider.  This also applies to patients who see private providers via NHS Right to Choose. We do not have any shared care protocols with Right to Choose providers so cannot take over prescribing, even if they send us a shared care agreement.  Right to choose providers can issue NHS prescriptions to patients who have been referred under NHS right to choose system so patients should not need to pay for treatment.

Patients who decide to pay privately for an ADHD assessment or treatment would not be eligible for shared care or NHS prescriptions under this guidance.