ADHD Shared Care Agreement Policy

Posted on 21/07/2025. Updated 09/10/2025

Important Notice Regarding ADHD Shared Care and Prescribing

At The Village Surgery, Timperley, we are committed to delivering fair, safe, and high-quality healthcare to all our patients. Following a review of current guidance from the Greater Manchester Medicines Management Group (GMMMG), we have updated our ADHD Shared Care Agreement (SCA) Policy and prescribing practices.

Key Changes to Our Policy

• We do not accept shared care agreements for ADHD medication for adults, whether the diagnosis or treatment is through the NHS, NHS Right to Choose, or private providers.
• We continue to prescribe ADHD medication for children under 18, with shared care agreements in place for NHS, NHS Right to Choose, and private providers.
• Once a child patient turns 18, they must be referred to adult ADHD services. Please be aware that shared care prescribing may then be declined by our practice for adult ADHD treatment.

Why We Have Made These Changes

Managing ADHD, particularly through medication, requires ongoing specialist oversight, regular reviews, and close monitoring. GPs are not currently locally resourced to provide this level of specialist care for ADHD medication prescribing and monitoring.

Understanding Shared Care Agreements (SCA)

A Shared Care Agreement is an arrangement between you, your GP, and a specialist (typically a psychiatrist) to allow your GP to continue prescribing a medication that has been initiated and stabilised by the specialist. These agreements are voluntary for GPs and are not mandatory or legally required.

ADHD Assessment Waiting Times & Right To Choose

The current wait time for the local ADHD assessment and management service is a significant number of years. As a result it is important to consider a right to choose NHS provider where the wait time may be significantly shorter. It is also important to consider whether the right to choose provider is authorised to provide long-term NHS ADHD Medication Prescriptions and Monitoring (without shared care from GP), please contact your chosen provider to check this before asking for a GP referral from us. For more information about Right To Choose, and some current providers, please use the weblink below:

Right to Choose – ADHD UK

Our Commitment

At The Village Surgery, Timperley, we are committed to fair and clinically safe healthcare. Our ADHD prescribing and shared care policies are designed to support patients within the limits of our resources and the latest clinical guidance.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.