Are most GP's stopping shared care for ADHD?

[Milmoe]

I am thinking about seeking a private ADHD diagnosis so that I can get some help. I am almost certain I have this condition and I want to get help before I completely waste any potential that I have. I did ask my GP about it some time ago but they were quite dismissive.

I have heard about people being able to pay for a private diagnosis then they are able to get shared care via their GP's for their medication long term. However I am also hearing now that lots of GP's are now doing a blanket refusal on shared care for ADHD and are even ending shared care agreements that have stood for years.

I can barely afford the diagnosis and would not be able to pay £100's monthly for my medication so if there is no chance of shared care via my GP then their would be little point in seeking a diagnosis except for perhaps being able to access some in work modifications.

I just feel so hopeless, the medication for ADHD seems like my last hope of a normal life but it seems I will never be able to actually access it even if I was diagnosed.

Speak to your GP. Doesn’t matter what the other ones are doing, what matters to you is what your practice do.

It is highly variable, so as above, you need to see what your own GP says. You have a better chance of them agreeing by going to a reputable company and being assessed by a psychiatrist, but there is still no guarantee.

You could try getting referred through Right to Choose.

Google ADHD Right to choose, make sure they will prescribe your meds under the NHS, and see how you need to be referred. Probably the best way of getting referred.

Adult adhd services are potentially stopping being funded by the NHS altogether as part of the cuts.

Where are you getting this from and what do you mean by services? The diagnosis or medication or therapy?

This isn't available in my area, also I saw on reddit GP's don't have to agree to ongoing prescriptions even from RTC.I don't know if that is true.

This is the general vibe I get from some of the threads on reddit to be honest that in future if you want access to ADHD diagnosis and medication you will have to go private for it all.

My GP refused shared care but my medication costs about £40 a month. Plus you don’t have to take it every day, people often take breaks on it like at weekends.

The reason why a lot of GPs refuse shared care is due to patients and private firms not adhering to correct protocol for the medication - not having 6 monthly check ups etc. GPs have a duty of care to their patients when prescribing class A drugs, and don't want to risk it if the monitoring isn't being done. Some will agree later on if proof of correct protocol being followed can be evidenced.

Got this directly from an NHS GP.

Yes many GPs are declining shared care agreements currently, even for those diagnosed via right to choose pathway so it's best to select a provider which states it will continue to prescribe and bill the NHS after titration ( process of finding right dose/medication) is complete. Even some that had prior agreements in place have been notified that they will be ceasing due to GPs action against NHS funding as they don't get paid for the extra work & responsibility involved.

If you live in England and have the option of the Right to choose pathway it really not worthwhile paying to go private.

GPs are often selective about accepting shared care with a private diagnosis anyway as the access to the specialist relies on the patient being able to fund it. They can refer to local NHS ADHD service if there is one but it seems variable by trust whether they will accept a private diagnosis to start onto medication or continue to prescribe as some insist go on the waiting list for their own full assessment.

Without extra training on ADHD meds GPs are only able to prescribe as advised by the specialist they can't make changes. There is also an annual meds review with the specialist.

Our GP is now refusing shared care for existing NHS diagnosed patients by the NHS ( CAMHs and adult ADHD service)so don’t assume right to choose will give any protection. My dd has just had her letter saying everybody in her position will get the same.

It’s a disgrace. She is starting a college course in September.The GP needs to do very little,simply blood pressure once or twice a year.

ADHD meds are literally life saving for many and they want young people in work.

Does anybody know if the £30 a month prescription thing would cover ADHD meds if they they do close the adult ADHD suppprt department? It would be nuts if they did as nobody with an NHS diagnosis could then get meds and they also run very successful courses and psycotherapy for those who don’t want meds.

My daughter was diagnosed by the NHS and an existing shared care patient with her GP. She has just had a letter saying they won’t now do her shared care and are referring her back to the NHS ADHD adult service but if as people say they are going to shut NHS adult ADHD services what is she supposed to do? She’s had years under CAMHs, in and out of hospital and is finally rebuilding her life with the help of her ADHD meds. She can’t do the college course she has applied for without them.

But they’re doing this with existing NHS diagnosed patients too. How can they say the NHS aren’t following the correct protocol for medication monitoring?

I've been under shared care with Psych-UK and no news re ending shared care as of yet

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgle2xkg3wpo.amp

My GP surgery seems to only accept shared care agreements from a specific adult ADHD service within the trust even though I’d been advised by them that if I wanted to be seen more quickly to go down the RTC pathway and select an online service.

For various reasons I decided to just wait. It took three years to get to the top of the list but I’m glad I did or I’d be back at square one. It might be worth asking your GP if the same applies there. Though if adult ADHD NHS services really are going to be cut it’s all moot. Any sources on this @SpudsIlike13?

But that’s not what your quite scaremongering previous post said

“Adult adhd services are potentially stopping being funded by the NHS altogether as part of the cuts.“

NHS adhd services have long waits and in extreme cases wait lists have been closed. Nowhere has it been said that adhd services are going to be cut altogether.

Private diagnoses tend to disproportionately diagnose ADHD. Suggestion is they are not 100% reliable.

It's also an additional burden on already unmanageable workloads for GPs. With an NHS diagnosis it should really be the clinician that made the diagnosis prescribing (now it's all electronic it doesn't involve lots of running around by patients, can still select a local pharmacy to collect from etc).

OP it's worth getting on the NHS wait list regardless as the time will pass anyway as they say. If you do seek a private diagnosis in the meantime it's safer to assume that you won't get shared care.

How is it an unmanageable burden?The service does the yearly med review and the GP does a blood pressure check. The prescription goes to the pharmacy. GPs process hoards of prescriptions.

It is essentially unpaid work for some (that is dependent on various factors). It's also voluntary so they can refuse if they don't have the bandwidth to do it. If they are prescribing in their name they need to be satisfied that the consultant who did the diagnosis did so in line with all policy and guidelines; it's a big responsibility putting your name to someone else's work essentially- spending the time and effort reassuring themselves of this can take time.

Hi,

There was a thing about this on BBC1’s morning programme con or cure, very hard on people, can’t recall what day last week.
see if you can get on
i-player

My GP said they have a blanket ban on shared care for adult adhd. They told me with children, it was a possibility but would go to panel for the partners to decide on a case by case basis.

I dont understand the issue here, how is this different to any other drug that is prescribed by a consultant but issued by the GP

So Im on a medication which was prescribed by neurology and is issued by the GP. I have never had a review of it mind you, coming up 3 years. Is that what is considered shared care?

What about ENT prescribed medication, again have been prescribed medication for sinuses years ago which are for life from ENT, issued by GP of course.

Why is ADHD meds any different?

Except people on this very thread are facing a risk that they cant get their meds, so not scaremongering