ADHD prescribing

Information about ADHD medication prescribing and monitoring

Across the country, patients are experiencing challenges and delays in accessing services for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. This picture is the same across mid and south Essex.

This is due to a combination of factors, including:

  • increased numbers of patients seeking an assessment and being diagnosed;
  • long waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment in specialist services;
  • more patients are being prescribed medication and requiring ongoing monitoring in general practice where capacity is stretched;
  • patients receiving different elements of NHS funded care from different providers, as well as privately-funded care;
  • An ongoing national shortage of ADHD medications.

This creates a complex and challenging picture for healthcare providers who are working hard to ensure patients remain able to safely access ADHD medications and ongoing monitoring, whether that is within specialist care, or in their GP practice.

Changes to NHS GP prescribing of ADHD medications


Some GP practices are stopping prescribing ADHD medications for their patients.  

NHS Mid and South Essex has put in place new arrangements to ensure NHS patients remain able to access ADHD medications safely and without interruption. For patients who have accessed diagnosis or treatment privately, please refer to the FAQ below.

Alongside the new arrangements that have been put in place, we are continuing to work with GP practices, specialist care providers, and other system partners to plan, redesign and improve the pathways of care in mid and south Essex so that patients are supported to access the care they need in a way that is safe, equitable, and sustainable.

Please see below an FAQ about what will happen and how these changes may affect you if you are prescribed ADHD medication from your GP practice.

ADHD prescribing: Frequently Asked Questions

This page will be updated at regular intervals when details are confirmed.

ADHD prescribing scenarios for patients

Patients whose GP practices are withdrawing from ADHD prescribing have different routes to alternative services depending on where they got their initial diagnosis, and their age.

Patients should be able to recognise their situation from the below scenarios, and see what options are available to them.

Adults and Children

Your situation:

  • diagnosis by an NHS specialist service
  • Shared care agreement in place and your GP prescribes your medication
  • You are reviewed by your usual ADHD specialist

What this means for you

This is a stable arrangement.
You will continue to be reviewed by your specialist and will access prescriptions from your GP.

Your situation:

  • Diagnosis with ADHD by NHS specialist service (locally commissioned or Right to Choose)
  • Your GP has opted out of shared care. Shared care with your GP is voluntary. Some GPs may opt out due to capacity, or the need for specialist input. Find out more about Shared Care Agreements.
  • You continue to be reviewed by your specialist provider.
  • Your prescriptions will be managed by the local GP Federation.

    The ICB has commissioned local GP Federations to take on shared care agreements where GP practices have opted out. A GP Federation is a group of local GP practices working together to offer more services and better access to care for patients.
  • You will be contacted by the GP Federation that is taking over your shared care.
  • You should contact your GP practice only if you haven’t heard from the GP Federation before your prescription runs out.

What this means for you

You will continue to be reviewed by your specialist, and will access prescriptions from the relevant GP Federation.

You should wait to be contacted by the GP Federation, who are already starting to contact patients regarding their ongoing prescriptions.

Your situation:

  • You were diagnosed privately and had a shared care arrangement
  • Your GP has stopped prescribing

Either:

  • Use your private provider for reviews and prescriptions, you will need to pay their costs. OR
  • Ask your GP to refer you to the locally commissioned NHS children’s or adults service, or to an NHS provider via Right to Choose.
  • Right to Choose means you can pick an NHS approved provider who helps you with your mental health, like ADHD or autism checks.
  • Not all Right to Choose providers will accept patients with an existing diagnosis. Find out more about Right to Choose providers.

What this means for you


You can use your private provider, or ask for an NHS referral to the locally commissioned service for children or adults, or via a Right to Choose pathway (which may not be accepted).

A new assessment may be needed before the NHS provider can issue a new prescription.

This is because some private providers may follow different rules than the NHS, so you may need to be reassessed to make sure their assessment meets NHS quality standards.

You might face delays in accessing medication. Find out about treatment breaks on the ADHD FAQ.

Your situation:

  • You were diagnosed by an NHS specialist service as a child.
  • You have not been referred to adult services, and there has been no formal handover or referral to adult ADHD services.
  • Your GP has stopped prescribing.
  • You have no shared care in place and no ongoing specialist oversight. You are not under any medication or receiving ongoing support.

Options moving forward:

  1. Request NHS referral via the local NHS service, or via Right to Choose (although this is not guaranteed)
  2. Discuss with your GP if non-NHS services are right for you
  3. Wait for alternative ADHD services the ICB is putting in place – but this will take time

What this means for you

Your care has been disrupted due to a gap in transition planning.

You may request a referral to the local NHS service, or to a Right to Choose referral via your GP, although it is not guaranteed that your referral will be accepted.

You may choose to seek arrangements outside of NHS care, which should be discussed with your GP. Click here for information for patients considering private treatment.

Or, you may choose to wait for alternative ADHD services which the ICB is currently working to put in place – this will take time.

You will likely experience disruption in accessing medication. Find out about treatment breaks on the ADHD FAQ.

Young People transitioning between Children’s and Adult’s Services

Your situation:

  • Moving from children’s to adult services (18+)
  • No medication review in the last 11 months
  • No shared care arrangement with your GP
  • Your access to reviews and ADHD medication is disrupted

Your options moving forward:

  1. Request your original children’s provider to prescribe
  2. Wait for alternative ADHD services the ICB is putting in place – this will take time
  3. Discuss with your GP if alternative services outside of the NHS are appropriate

What this means for you

Your original children’s provider may continue prescriptions.

If not, you may choose to wait for alternative ADHD services which the ICB is currently working to put in place – but this will take time. 

You may choose to seek non-NHS care, which should be discussed with your GP. Click here for information for patients considering private treatment.

You will likely experience disruption to accessing medication. Find out about treatment breaks on the ADHD FAQ.

ADHD prescribing information for patients – May 2025 (pdf, 195kb)