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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can affect many aspects of a person’s life. However, diagnosis is complex and requires a specialist, usually a consultant psychiatrist to do this.

GPs are not able to make a diagnosis of ADHD and a referral is needed to an ADHD specialist. If an ADHD diagnosis is subsequently made by the specialist, they may choose to offer medications to help manage the symptoms. These medications are potentially dangerous and therefore require careful monitoring. The specialist is responsible for prescribing the medications, making any dose adjustments and arranging a yearly review which includes a physical assessment.

Before you can be referred, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire by your GP which will assess the potential severity of your condition to determine whether a referral to the service is suitable for you.

Assessments

Assessments for Adults

Please follow the steps below:

Complete the screening test
Choose your preferred provider from the approved list below.
Send the completed screening test results, together with your preferred service provider to the practice.

We will complete the provider referral form for you with information from your medical record and a letter from the GP.

You will receive confirmation from our Practice referrals team when your referral has been sent.

We will contact you if we need any more information to support your referral.

Assessments for Children

Getting holistic local support for your child at home and school is important, and the best way to achieve this is via the local CAMHS service following a referral from your child's school. We also have a child and young person wellbeing worker who can provide general support with mental health. We understand that local service waiting times are long which can be frustrating and can prevent you getting a diagnosis of ADHD or ASD quickly. You do have the option of the 'right to choose' route to obtain a diagnosis instead from a non-local provider. The process for this is outlined below:

Choose your preferred service from the approved list below and complete any screening or assessment tools they request.
Contact the practice to confirm your chosen provider.
Provide us with some information about why you think your child may have ADHD or Autism and the signs and symptoms that you are concerned about, together with any requested questionnaires from your chosen provider.
The doctor will complete a referral form with this information and will send the referral to your chosen provider.
We will contact you if we need any more information.
You will receive confirmation from our Practice referrals team when your referral has been sent.

Right to choose

You can choose to be referred to a private provider of your choice, but should you choose to follow this route and a diagnosis is made, the GP will not be in a position to prescribe ADHD medication or arrange monitoring. This must all be done through the private provider and you may need to check on the costs of ongoing treatment including prescribing and yearly reviews.

Patients can exercise their right to choose and ask to be referred to another provider who has an existing contract to provide NHS services.

Approved list of providers

You can choose to be referred to a private provider, but should you choose to follow this route and a diagnosis is made, the GP will not be in a position to prescribe ADHD medication or arrange monitoring. This must all be done through the private provider and you may need to check on the costs of ongoing treatment including prescribing and yearly reviews.

We recognise that living with a potential diagnosis of ADHD is quite stressful and getting support at this time is important. There are some charities that may be able to help with advice about where you can get support:

Providing NHS Services

Woodlands Medical Centre
Woodlands Road
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0BB

Telephone: 01235 517760

Blewbury Branch Surgery
Blewbury Village Hall
Heather Way
Blewbury
Didcot
OX11 9QQ