ADHD Policy

Version: 1.0
Edited by: Tamara Tarasidou
Date issued: 02 September 2025
Next review date: 02 September 2026

Key personnel identified within this policy

  • Practice Manager: Tamara Tarasidou
  • GP Partners: Dr Khalida Salim, Dr Bruce Websdale & Dr Delfy Chittilappilly
  • Pharmacist: Yaseen Alzawaadi

  1. Introduction

    1.1 Policy statement
    The Earlsfield Practice is committed to ensuring safe, evidence-based, and consistent prescribing. To safeguard patients and maintain clinical governance, we will not assume prescribing responsibility for ADHD medications initiated privately, even where a shared care agreement is provided. Patients will be directed to appropriate NHS pathways for assessment, diagnosis, titration, and prescribing. Shared care prescribing will only be considered once patients have been stabilised by an NHS service and meet the required monitoring standards.

  2. Policy

    2.1 General principles
    • We do not accept shared care prescribing requests from private providers for ADHD medications.
    • This applies even where a shared care agreement is provided by the private psychiatrist.
    • All patients must access ADHD diagnosis and prescribing via NHS pathways.

    2.2 New patient registration
    • Staff All new patients will be informed at registration that the practice does not take over ADHD prescribing from private providers.
    • Information will be provided in written form and made available on the practice website.
    • Where appropriate, patients will be directed to NHS Right to Choose pathways.

    2.3 Existing patients/Ongoing ADHD requests
    • Patients requesting ADHD assessment or treatment are directed to the NHS Right to Choose pathway or local NHS ADHD services.
    • If a patient is diagnosed and titrated via an NHS provider, the practice will consider shared care prescribing once the patient is stable.
    • Shared care will only continue if patients attend:
    – Annual reviews with the diagnosing psychiatrist, and
    – Six-monthly physical health checks at the practice (BP, weight, pulse).
    • Failure to attend these checks will result in cessation of shared care prescribing.

    2.4 Process for handling requests
    • All ADHD-related requests are funnelled through the nominated admin lead.
    • The admin lead will:
    – Explain the practice policy to patients.
    – Provide standard information letters and links to NHS Right to Choose.
    – Process referrals to NHS ADHD services as needed.
    • Clinical staff will only be involved where direct clinical input is required (e.g., questionnaires, physical health checks).

    2.5 Clinical governance
    • All ADHD-related requests are funnelled through the nominated admin lead.
    • The admin lead will:
    – Explain the practice policy to patients.
    – Provide standard information letters and links to NHS Right to Choose.
    – Process referrals to NHS ADHD services as needed.
    • Clinical staff will only be involved where direct clinical input is required (e.g., questionnaires, physical health checks).

    2.6 Communication to clinicians
    • All clinicians must follow this policy.
    • Prescriptions should not be issued outside of this pathway, even if patients present letters from private providers.
    • Any exceptions or uncertainties must be escalated to the prescribing lead/partners before action is taken