We hope that you find the following helpful and may answer some questions for you. If, after reading this, you still have further question or query, do book an appointment with your GP.
What is ADHD:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school.
Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it’s diagnosed later in childhood.
Sometimes ADHD was not recognised when someone was a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult.
The symptoms of ADHD usually improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems.
People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.
Children under 18 years:
The best way to refer a child under 18 years old is via their school, to CAMHS. This is because the teachers see the child every day and the combination of reports from the school and parent are most comprehensive for assessment. There is a long wait for assessment, but there is an NHS service at the end of it.
Adults over 18 years:
This practice is not funded to provide comprehensive NHS services for adults with ADHD.
National guidance expects long-term involvement of specialists in reviewing these patients and their medical treatment, but this does not currently happen in Oxfordshire.
The Partners have therefore taken the difficult decision that any new requests from specialists, both NHS and private, to prescribe ADHD medications to adult patients, will be declined. This, regrettably, includes children who are discharged from NHS CAMHS services when they turn 18, and Right To Choose NHS patients after a funded initial assessment. Some limited provision remains for children in the NHS in Oxfordshire.
We would also be making this clear to providers of ADHD services, at the point of any referral for a diagnostic assessment. Care of adults already receiving ADHD treatments remains under careful review.
Patients may be able to access the care they need outside of the NHS, for instance by self referral to a private service. (Health insurance companies may ask that a referral is made to a private provider from their NHS GP or NHS specialist.)
Right To Choose NHS options are very limited and funded for assessment only in Oxfordshire. Any onward care would need to be privately funded. If available, referrals to these providers can be made directly without a GP referral.
As your NHS GP, we will not enter into “shared care” arrangements with private providers.
Patients should not be left without the care they need, due to a lack of comprehensive NHS funding, and our local representatives have raised this issue with local funding and decision-making groups. If you also wish to raise this issue, you may want to contact the “planned care team” at the local Integrated Care Board, [email protected] , and/or your MP.
Regards
The Partners at Abingdon Surgery
Please see our page on ‘Private Care Guidance’ for more information on what to expect if you choose to go private: Private Care Guidance – The Abingdon Surgery