Right to Choose – ADHD & Autism Support

At Parkwood Surgery, we support patient access to appropriate assessment and management pathways for neurodevelopmental conditions including ADHD and autism. Patients have a Right to Choose their assessment and diagnostic pathway where local services offer it.

As part of this pathway, patients may choose to be assessed, diagnosed and supported by providers outside the local NHS, including organisations operating via the NHS Right to Choose pathway. Those services may recommend treatment options, including medications that fall outside initial GP prescribing.

Shared Care Agreements & ADHD Medication

If you choose to obtain an ADHD assessment privately, please be aware that Parkwood Surgery will be unable to take over prescribing of ADHD medication.

We are only able to consider taking over prescribing of ADHD medication where treatment has been initiated by an NHS specialist service and an NHS Shared Care Agreement is in place.

This is in line with guidance from Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWE ICB).

For the practice to take over prescribing of ADHD medication, all of the following must apply:

  • You must be diagnosed with ADHD by an NHS specialist, who confirms that prescribing is in line with NHS clinical criteria.

  • Medication must be started by an NHS service.

  • A formal NHS Shared Care Agreement must be in place.

Please note:

  • Shared Care Agreements may only be formed between NHS organisations.

  • There is no local policy allowing Shared Care Agreements between private providers and NHS GP practices.

  • Shared Care documents from private providers that have not gone through ICB governance processes cannot be accepted by GPs.

If Shared Care cannot be agreed, prescribing will remain with the specialist service that initiated treatment.

Important Update – Right to Choose & Private Providers

HWE ICB has advised that patients diagnosed with ADHD by a private provider via the NHS Right to Choose pathway must remain under that provider’s care if they wish to start ADHD medication.

This is because ADHD medications usually require ongoing monitoring and specialist review.

At present, Parkwood Surgery is unable to accept Shared Care Agreements with private providers for ADHD medication, as HWE ICB does not recommend Shared Care between NHS GP practices and private organisations. This means that if parents or guardians wish for a child’s ADHD medication to be prescribed by the GP, the child will need to wait for assessment and transfer of care by their local NHS service.

What is a Shared Care Agreement?

A Shared Care Agreement is a formal NHS arrangement between a specialist NHS service and your GP practice. It sets out:

  • who is responsible for prescribing

  • what monitoring is required

  • how often specialist reviews must take place

  • how information is shared safely

Shared Care allows your GP to continue prescriptions that were started by an NHS specialist, provided clear clinical guidance and ongoing specialist support are in place.

Shared Care Agreements are not automatic and can only be agreed where it is clinically safe, supported by NHS governance, and manageable within practice capacity.

NHS Services vs Private Providers (including Right to Choose)

We understand this can be confusing.

Some providers operate privately while also accepting NHS referrals through the Right to Choose pathway. Even when accessed via the NHS, these organisations remain private providers, not NHS specialist services.

This distinction matters because:

  • Shared Care Agreements can only be formed between NHS organisations.

  • Private providers (including those seen via Right to Choose) are responsible for prescribing and monitoring ADHD medication unless care is formally transferred to a local NHS specialist service.

  • GPs cannot accept Shared Care documents from private providers that have not gone through NHS governance processes.

This means that if medication is started by a private provider, prescribing will usually remain with that provider unless and until your care is transferred to an NHS service.

What this means for you

  • If you pursue a private ADHD assessment, any recommended medication will need to be prescribed and monitored by the private provider.

  • If you are assessed and diagnosed through an NHS service, Shared Care may be considered once treatment is established and all governance requirements are met.

  • Shared Care is not automatic and depends on clinical safety, capacity, and local NHS guidance.

If you are unsure which pathway applies to you, please contact the practice to discuss this with a clinician before arranging private assessments.

Contact for Right to Choose Queries

If you would like further information or wish to raise queries about the Right to Choose pathway, you can contact:

Or for more information about Right To Choose:

 

We appreciate this can be confusing and frustrating. These arrangements are in place to ensure patient safety and appropriate specialist oversight.