ASD / ADHD Assessments

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessments

We understand that an increasing number of both adults and children are seeking assessment for both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This page sets out the local referral pathways, the majority of which can be completed without needing a GP appointment.

If you need assistance in completing the forms please do not book a GP appointment. Help to complete forms can be found by:

Patients under 18 – suspected ADHD

We recommend initially for the patient and their parents/guardians to contact the school/college – the vast majority of children’s ADHD referrals are done this way. Every school has a SENCO who should be familiar with the process.

If the school are not being supportive then you can do a self- referral via CAMHS:

Under 18s  – suspected ASD

Assessments for ASD in children need to be done via GP, education or social care professionals. We would also recommend contacting the child’s school SENCO.

CAMHS ASD support page: https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/help/parents-carers/autistic-spectrum-condition/

If you would like to proceed with a referral please contact reception and an email address to which we can send you the forms. The form can be completed by parents/guardians, returned to us and we will then need to send off the form for you.

Patients Over 18 – suspected ADHD and ASD – local NHS referrals

For referrals for adult ADHD and ASD assessments patients will need to complete a form with their symptoms.

Please let reception know an email address to which we can send the forms. The forms need to either be dropped in for emailed back to us.  

For the adult ASD form you need to complete all sections.

For the adult ADHD form you need to complete section D and supply an up to date height, weight, blood pressure and pulse – all these can be measured using the machines in our waiting rooms.

Right to Choose and Private Providers

We are aware that waiting times for both ADHD and ASD assessments locally are very long. Currently for an initial assessment it can take at least a year.

Patients have the option to pursue an NHS diagnosis out of area via a “right to choose” clinic, or alternately a private provider.

We want to support our patients to access care where possible. We are unable to recommend any clinics, but want to make patients aware not all “right to choose” or private clinics are the same. We recommend choosing a clinic that offers an assessment with a Psychiatrist (a medical doctor who is specialised in psychiatry). The clinic also needs to have been registered and inspected by the CQC. If you want to proceed with an NHS Right to Choose you can find a list of NHS approved providers and their waiting times here: https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/ and please contact us to send off your referral.

ADHD medications can only be initiated by a specialist. NHMP doctors cannot start these medications without a diagnosis and recommendation by a specialist.

If ADHD medication is recommended by an NHS clinic accessed via a NHMP (or other NHS GP) referral (either local or Right to Choose), NHMP can prescribe under a “shared care agreement”. NHMP will only accept a shared care agreement if:

  • It comes from a reputable clinic as outlined above.
  • The patient is on a dose of medication within NICE guidelines/British National Formulary.
  • The patient has been stable on a medication dose for 6 months.

Once prescribing is taken over by NHMP, patients are required to have regular monitoring, typically weight, blood pressure and pulse every 6 months. If patients do not comply with this monitoring we reserve the right to discontinue prescribing.  Patients will also need to be seen regularly (usually every 6 or 12 months) by their treating clinic. It is the responsibility of patients and/or parents to ensure monitoring (e.g. blood pressure, weight) is carried out and up to date. We are not able to offer appointments solely for physical monitoring (such as blood pressure checks in children), and prescriptions will not be signed without the required monitoring information.

Until a shared care agreement is in place, the patient must continue to be seen in their Right to Choose clinic and all medication needs to be prescribed privately.

NHMP will not enter into any shared care agreements with private clinics, including Right to Choose clinics that also offer NHS management, if the clinic has not been accessed via an NHS referral. All medication will need to be prescribed by the private provider. We do not offer shared care agreements with any private services.

Further information about our position on prescribing ADHD medications

At present, we are not able to take over the prescribing of ADHD medications that have been started privately, outside of NHS services. This is in line with the guidance from the Wessex Local Medical Committees (LMCs) (https://www.wessexlmcs.com/guidance/understanding-shared-care-nhs-right-to-choose-and-private-providers/) and national best practice. While we respect your choice to access private assessments or treatment, it’s important to know that:

  • Prescribing ADHD medications requires careful and ongoing monitoring.
  • There is significant workload involved in maintaining safe prescribing.
  • As an NHS practice, we do not have the resources or responsibility to oversee increased requests of private ADHD prescribing.

This is not a reflection on your personal healthcare decisions – rather, it is about ensuring patient safety and maintaining high standards of care within the scope of NHS services.

Next Steps for Patients

If you are currently receiving treatment for ADHD through the NHS or are transitioning from private to NHS care, we recommend the following:

  • Contact your private provider to explore referral options into NHS services under the Right to Choose pathway, if appropriate.
  • If you are under an NHS specialist, ask them to provide us with a Shared Care Agreement and the latest review documentation.
  • Continue attending your specialist reviews and health checks regularly to support safe prescribing.

Additional Note

We will continue to honour existing private shared care agreements that were in place prior to 9th July 2025, as long as appropriate annual reviews with the private provider and monitoring are maintained, in line with the expectations of an NHS shared care agreement. Please also note that Testvale Surgery in Totton have a matching ADHD prescriptions policy.