ADHD and Autism

Please choose the section that applies to you:

👦 Child (under 18 years)
👩 Adult (18 years and over)

If your child attends school, please speak to their SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) first.

Schools play an important role in the assessment process and will usually provide information that supports any referral.

Other professionals who may also contribute include:

• School Nurse
• Educational Psychologist
• Paediatrician
• CAMHS
• Speech and Language Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Child Psychiatrist

Your GP may ask for information from these professionals before a referral can be made.

NHS Right to Choose (Children)

Parents and guardians may be able to choose an NHS-funded assessment provider through the NHS Right to Choose scheme.

To use this option:

1. Research available providers.
2. Choose the provider you would like.
3. Complete any paperwork required by that provider.
4. Send the paperwork to Highfield Surgery.

Please note: Our clinicians cannot recommend one Right to Choose provider over another.

Patients continue to have the right to choose a qualified provider through the NHS Right to Choose scheme.

However, some providers have already reached their commissioned assessment capacity for the current financial year. Whilst referrals can still be made to these providers, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) will not fund assessments above agreed activity levels.

What does this mean for patients?

✅ You can still be referred to your chosen provider.

✅ Referral processes remain unchanged.

✅ You continue to have the legal right to choose a qualified provider.

⚠️ Waiting times for some providers are expected to increase significantly, with the majority likely to exceed 52 weeks.

Ongoing ADHD Care

There are currently no restrictions on ongoing ADHD care, including:

• Medication titration
• Annual reviews
• Follow-up appointments

If a provider advises that ongoing care is being delayed or restricted because of activity limits, this should be reported to the ICB.

Adult ADHD Support Service

Adults waiting for ADHD assessment or treatment can access additional support through the ADHD North West Support Service.

Adult ADHD Support Service

Highfield Surgery does not enter into shared care prescribing arrangements for ADHD medication with private or NHS Right to Choose providers.

This means that if you are diagnosed elsewhere, the surgery will not take over prescribing ADHD medication.

If medication is important to you, we strongly recommend choosing a provider that manages both assessment and treatment.

Some providers ask patients to arrange:

• Blood tests
• Blood pressure checks
• Pulse checks
• Height measurements
• Weight measurements

These tests form part of that provider’s assessment or treatment pathway.

Highfield Surgery does not carry out investigations requested by private or Right to Choose ADHD providers as part of their service.

Please check what your chosen provider offers before requesting a referral.

You may choose to pay privately for an ADHD or autism assessment.

If you do:

• Choose your own provider.
• Check what services they include.
• Complete any paperwork they require.
• Send any GP forms to our Medical Secretaries if needed.

Important

Paying privately for:

• An assessment
• A diagnosis
• Medication
• Prescriptions
• Any other privately funded care

Will not give you priority access to NHS treatment and does not allow you to bypass NHS assessment or treatment pathways.

Please also remember that paying privately for an assessment does not mean the surgery will prescribe any medication recommended by a private provider.

What is NHS Right to Choose?

Right to Choose allows eligible patients in England to choose which NHS provider they are referred to for certain services.

Can Highfield Surgery recommend a provider?

No. The choice of provider must be made by the patient or parent.

Will I definitely receive medication if I am diagnosed with ADHD?

No. Medication depends on the provider you choose and whether they offer prescribing and titration services.

Can Highfield Surgery prescribe medication recommended by a private or right to choose clinic clinic?

No. The surgery does not enter into shared care prescribing arrangements with private or Right to Choose ADHD providers.

I’ve already been referred. Who do I contact?

Once your referral has been accepted, the provider manages your waiting list. Please contact the provider directly for updates.

Why are some waiting times longer than others?

Some providers have reached their commissioned assessment capacity for the year. Referrals can still be made, but waiting times may exceed 52 weeks.

Children

✔ Speak to your child’s SENCO first.

Adults

✔ Complete the appropriate questionnaire.
✔ Choose a Right to Choose provider if you wish.
✔ Send the completed paperwork to Highfield Surgery.

Before Choosing an ADHD Provider

✔ Check whether they provide medication and titration.
✔ Be aware that some providers have waiting times exceeding 52 weeks.
✔ Private assessments do not provide priority access to NHS services.
✔ Do not assume your GP surgery will prescribe ADHD medication after diagnosis.

👦 Child? → Speak to your school SENCO first.
👩 Adult? → Complete the questionnaire first.
💊 Want ADHD medication? → Check that your chosen provider offers assessment, prescribing and titration.
⏳ Concerned about waiting times? → Contact your chosen provider directly for their most up-to-date waiting list information.