ADHD/ASD Right to Choose Referrals & Shared Care

**Important Update Regarding RTC ADHD/ASD Assessments**

There has been a significant increase in demand for RTC ADHD/ASD assessments for both adults and children resulting in a huge amount of requests to the practice. The process for these referrals is detailed and time consuming; involving the completion of numerous forms which vary between RTC providers. Therefore, our surgery will address your requests as resources become available.  Additionally, please note that it is not necessary to schedule an appointment with a GP to initiate this process.

Thank you for your understanding.

Unfortunately demand for ADHD/ASD assessments has increased significantly, leading to long NHS waiting times.

ADHD/ASD Assessments – NHS and Right to Choose

Right to Choose is an NHS pathway that lets you pick an alternative, NHS funded provider for your assessment or treatment. It gives you more control over where you’re seen when local waiting times are long.   However, it may require you to travel to a provider outside of Northamptonshire.‑funded provider for your assessment or treatment. It gives you more control over where you’re seen when local waiting times are long.

Many patients are now choosing to use the NHS Right to Choose pathway to access alternative assessment providers.

Please read the below information, it clearly explains how to request a referral for both Adults and Children, and also outlines our prescribing and shared care policies and protocols:-

Adult ADHD/ASD Referrals

• Choosing a Provider

Visit the ADHD UK Right to Choose page Right to Choose - ADHD UK - Your NHS options and select a provider that suits your needs.  If you think you may require medication, ensure the provider is able to prescribe as the GP practice cannot initiate ADHD medications.

• Completing Provider Forms

Most ADHD Assessment providers require you to complete their online forms before referral.

You must complete these Forms in full as they will need to be forward to the chosen provider.

• Accessing a GP Referral for ADHD/ASD

Once your forms are completed:

• Complete & submit a Triage form via the practice website.
• You will then be sent a screening questionnaire and asked to provide your choice of ADHD/ASD assessment provider.
• It is extremely important that you provide as much information as possible regarding your symptoms and how they impact your life.
• The request and screening questionnaire will be reviewed by an experienced clinician.
• You will receive communication regarding whether your symptoms meet the criteria for an assessment.

Children’s ADHD/ASD Referrals

• School Inititated Referrals 

For children, ADHD/ASD primarily presents as an educational issue. Most referrals should be initiated by schools (SENCO), which are responsible for completing and submitting the necessary parent and school documentation. These referrals are made through the Referral Management Centre, with the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) handling the process

• Right to Choose Assessment Requests

If you wish to use Right to Choose (RTC)  – whether you are waiting on the NHS waiting list or have been advised by the school to seek a RTC assessment due to excessive waiting times:

• Select a provider that accepts your child’s age group and can offer diagnosis and medication if needed from the list LINK
• Complete the provider’s online forms.

PLEASE BE AWARE: You can not be on both NHS and RtC waiting lists at once.

• Accessing a GP referral

After completing the forms:

• Submit a triage form expressing your wish for a Right to Choose ADHD / Autism Assessment for your child. Please specify if you wish to access a combined ADHD and Autism assessment.
• A screening questionnaire will be sent out to assess your child's symptoms and ensure the referral is appropriate. You will be asked to specify your chosen RTC provider.
• You will receive communication regarding whether your child’s symptoms meet the criteria for an assessment.

• Prescribing
• After your assessment, you may want to consider medications to help manage your symptoms.
• These medications will be prescribed by your provider and will incur personal costs; they are not covered by the NHS prescriptions service.
• All prescribing responsibilities lie with the Right to Choose provider.
• GPs are not able to prescribe ADHD medication under shared care for these referrals.

ADHD Treatment & Shared Care

1) Medication Classification

All ADHD medications are classified as Amber in Northamptonshire. This means:

• They require specialist oversight.
• They cannot be prescribed independently by a GP.
• They require monitoring due to potential side effects.

·      The responsibility for prescribing these medications should be shared between the GP and the specialist. This is a called “Shared Care Agreement”

2) Shared Care Arrangements

• Shared care can only be offered when a patient is stable on treatment and an approved protocol exists.
• We currently only have shared care agreements with NHFT ADHD, Autism and Tourettes Team  the local NHS service.
• Private providers, including those accessed via Right to Choose, must continue prescribing and monitoring medication.
• Some Right to Choose providers can give NHS prescriptions, so patients usually do not have to pay for treatment. The provider and the patient will set up an agreement to monitor the treatment.

3) Private Assessments

Patients who choose to pay privately for ADHD assessment or treatment are not eligible for shared care or NHS prescriptions.