Latest News….Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is not currently accepting referrals for adults who are suspected to have ADHD, unless they have more complicated symptoms or serious social or mental health issues.
Children- NHS ADHD Referral Information
If your GP feels it is appropriate, they may refer your child through the NHS for an ADHD assessment, which will be completed by the mental health team at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT).
Before a referral can be made for a child, HPFT require the following paperwork (forms can be downloaded below).
- Referral form completed by parent/carer
- SNAP-IV rating scale form completed by parent/carer
- Referral form completed by school
- SNAP-IV rating scale form completed by school
Once ALL the paperwork has been completed and returned to us, please book a routine telephone call with a GP to discuss sending the referral.
We can not send the referral without the completed paperwork (forms below).
Children- Referral Forms
Please download the forms below.
Once all 4 forms have been completed, please book a routine telephone call with a GP to discuss sending the referral.
Please bring the completed forms to your appointment. We can not send the referral without the completed forms.
Parent/Carer Referral Forms Teachers Referral FormsAdult- NHS ADHD Referral Information
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is not currently accepting referrals for adults who are suspected to have ADHD, unless they have more complicated symptoms or serious social or mental health issues
Please read the statement from HPFT, outlining the reasons for this decision.
There are a number of useful websites and resources available below:
- ADDiSS National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service. Tel: 0208 952 2800
- AADD-UK Site for and by adults with ADHD
- ADDers Promotes awareness of ADHD and free practical help to sufferers and their families
- ADD-vance Hertfordshire based charity that supports families affected by ADHD
- Royal College of Psychiatrists Information Leaflet
- ADHD UK
- ADHD Foundation
- CBT for ADHD or Coach Search for BABCP registered therapists or coaches.
- If you feel after looking into the above websites that you are still struggling with the symptoms and mental health then please make an appointment with a doctor to discuss further.
- In case of an urgent situation where you feel unsafe with your mental health you can contact the following numbers below:
- Freephone 0800 6444 101 for HPFT helpline
- Dial 111 and selection option 2
Private ADHD Referrals
If you choose to obtain an ADHD assessment privately, we will be unable to take over prescribing of your ADHD medication.
We are only able to take over prescribing ADHD medication which has been started by an NHS service once we have an NHS shared care agreement.
This is due to rules set by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), which state for us to take over prescribing of ADHD medication:
- A patient must be diagnosed with ADHD by an NHS specialist, who confirms that the prescribing of ADHD medicine is in line with NHS criteria.
- Diagnosed with ADHD by an NHS specialist, who confirms that the prescribing of ADHD medicine is in line with NHS criteria.
- Shared care agreements may only be formed between NHS organisations. There is no local policy which allows shared care agreements to be formed between private and NHS organisations.
- Shared care documents from private providers, which have not gone through the ICB’s governance processes cannot be accepted by GPs
Conversion of Privately Prescribed ADHD Medication to NHS
If a patient who has been diagnosed by a private service wishes to receive their ADHD treatment on the NHS from their GP, they will need to be referred to an NHS mental health specialist for an assessment (see above section on NHS ADHD Referrals).
If the NHS mental health specialist feels the patient meets NHS criteria to start ADHD medication, a shared care agreement would then need to be formed between the NHS specialist and GP. In the interim, the prescribing and clinical responsibility of the medicine(s) must remain with the private specialist.
We are only able to consider taking over prescribing of ADHD medication started by a private service if both of the following are met:
- A patient has been referred via the NHS “Right to Choose” scheme
- The private organisation has an NHS contract to provide mental health services. This means that the private provider must have an NHS contract to provide ADHD services for the type of patient in question e.g. child or adult.
- It is not sufficient for the private clinician themselves to have an NHS contract.
- For further information on guidance set by our Integrated Care Board, please contact the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Team (PMOT) for South and West Hertfordshire, which is part of Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board.
Right to Choose (RTC)
If you live in England, and your GP refers you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the legal right to choose the organisation you would like to go to, giving you greater freedom of choice and control over your care. Please note that RTC does not cover Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Your GP will still need to assess you and make the referral if appropriate, but you will have the right to choose the provider.
There are a list of private providers who offer their services. Some of them may not be in West Hertfordshire but they may be able to review you virtually as long as you live in England.
Before booking an appointment with your GP regarding this please make sure you look at this diagnosis pathway for ADHD and complete the screening questionnaire, save your score and bring it with you.
Exemptions to Right to Choose
Certain people can not use Right to Choose if they are:
- already receiving mental health care following an elective referral for the same condition
- referred to a service that is commissioned by a local authority, for example a drug and alcohol service (unless commissioned under a Section 75 agreement)
- accessing urgent or emergency (crisis) care
- accessing services delivered through a primary care contract
- in high secure psychiatric services
- detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
- detained in a secure setting. This includes people in or on temporary release from prisons, courts, secure children’s homes, certain secure training centres, immigration removal centres or young offender institutions
- serving as a member of the armed forces (family members in England have the same rights as other residents of England.
For more information on Right to Choose and to find the list of providers who offer this:
Support
- NHS: 111 opt 2: If you require immediate support in a crisis
- Crisis: 0800 6444 101
- ADDers Promotes awareness of ADHD and free practical help to sufferers and their families
- ADDISS The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.
- ADD-vance: Family Support including telephone help desk (01727 833963)
- Autism Hertfordshire Post Diagnostic Support for newly diagnosed adults
- ADHD Foundation
Devon Partnership NHS Trust have collated a list of ADHD friendly apps which can support with routines, organisation, concentration and relaxation.