Being told your GP won’t share your ADHD care can be frustrating, especially after paying for an assessment and titration. The good news is that your treatment doesn’t have to stop, and there are several things you can do.
Why GPs decline shared care
Shared care is voluntary. GPs and their professional bodies say a practice can decline when it doesn’t feel it has the expertise, time or specialist support to prescribe safely. Common reasons include:
- A practice or local policy not to share care with private providers
- Concerns about how thorough the assessment was
- Not enough information about the treatment plan or monitoring
- Workload, or a lack of local specialist support
Guidance for doctors says the decision shouldn’t be made because of the cost of the medicine alone.
1. Ask for the reason
Politely ask the practice to explain why, ideally in writing. If the reason is missing information, it’s often something your specialist can fix.
2. Ask your specialist to help
Your specialist can send a fuller report, a detailed shared care protocol, or answer the GP’s questions directly. At ADHD Health, we do this as part of your care at no extra cost.
3. Ask whether another GP can help
Some practices have a GP with a special interest in ADHD or mental health. You can ask whether another GP at the practice would consider your request.
4. Keep your treatment going
Don’t stop your medication suddenly. Your specialist can keep prescribing privately while you sort things out. You pay a prescription fee (£30 with us) plus the pharmacy’s charge for the medicine. See our fees.
5. Think about your NHS options
- Ask for an NHS referral. Your GP can refer you to your local NHS adult ADHD service, or a children’s service. Some will review a private diagnosis rather than assess you again, but waits can be long
- Right to Choose (England only). You may be able to choose an NHS-funded ADHD provider. Read our guide to private assessment or Right to Choose
6. Changing GP practice
You can ask to register with a different practice if one covers your address and is taking new patients. Before you move, ask the new practice about its shared care policy, as many follow the same local guidance.
7. Making a complaint
If you think your request wasn’t handled fairly, you can complain to the practice first. If you’re not happy with the response, you can go to the NHS body for your area, and then to the ombudsman for your nation.
What helps most
In our experience, GPs are most likely to agree when they have a clear report, a clear plan for monitoring, and confidence that a specialist will stay involved. That’s why we include all three, and why we stay in touch with your GP for as long as you’re with us.
Questions about your situation? Book a free call or read our guide to shared care.