ADHD Medication Policy

• Some GP practices will return prescribing ADHD medications to the specialist teams .
• If this happens, the GP practice will write to the patient and their ADHD specialist to let them know. 
• The notice to the ADHD specialist should be at least three months before they stop prescribing

• GP practices are under a lot of pressure.  
• Each practice needs to focus on providing the services that they must offer under the terms of their contract.  
• Some specialist medications are only safe for GPs to prescribe under a ‘Shared Care Agreement’ - which includes ADHD treatments.  GPs do not have to prescribe shared care medications if they feel unable to do so or if they are not able to do this in a safe manner – it is not part of their contract and has always been a core part of the specialist role.
• On account of the pressures, the local medical committees (LMCs) in Suffolk and Essex have recommended that GPs stop prescribing ADHD medications and return responsibility for this back to ADHD specialists.

• A ‘Shared Care Agreement’ (SCA) is needed for some specialist medications. 
• It is an agreement between a GP and a specialist and assumes certain responsibilities of the patient.
• Under an SCA the GP agrees to prescribe the medication and carry out any tests, for example, blood pressure etc reverting to the specialist if there are issues.

The following organisations provide specialist ADHD services across Suffolk and north east Essex:

• West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) Integrated Community Paediatric team
• Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)
• East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (the organisation which manages Ipswich and Colchester hospitals)
• Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)

For some patients, their ADHD specialist will be part of a different organisation. For example, organisations that offer virtual and/or online services to patients.

• It will mean a new way for patients (adults and children) to order their ADHD medication.  
• Patients may have to go elsewhere for monitoring procedures, such as blood pressure.

• This depends on who the patient’s ADHD specialist is.
• For some patients, their ADHD specialist will prescribe their ADHD medications and arrange any tests that might be needed.
• For other patients, a new local ADHD service will prescribe their ADHD medications and arrange any tests that might be needed. This service is planned to go live in April 2025.
• For patients that privately funded their ADHD assessment, different arrangements will apply.
• Patients should wait to be contacted with information on these new arrangements.

Our plan is for the patient to be able to get their medication supplied as they do now. This could be from their doctor’s dispensary, a community pharmacy, or an online pharmacy.

• These changes should not cause any delays for patients.

• If you have any questions about these changes, please email the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the SNEE ICB who will refer your query to the relevant provider.

**Please note the above is only applicable if you have received a letter from your practice telling you that things are changing**