ADHD medications are a controlled drug and potentially dangerous. As such they are only to be prescribed when a patient remains under regular review of a psychiatrist for safety reasons.
The “shared care agreement”, which many private psychiatrists often quote, is an agreement between GPs and NHS psychiatrists and does not automatically cover private services.
Over recent years there has been a significant increase in demand for assessment for ADHD and as a result the NHS Lothian waiting list is currently several years long. On top of this GP services continue to be significantly underfunded year on year whilst struggling with an ever increasing workload. Understandably many patients have turned to the private sector for access to diagnosis and medication. Until recently patients who received a private diagnosis could then be referred directly in to the NHS Lothian service for annual review with a much shorter waiting list than that of a full assessment.
GP practices were notified on 04/03/25 that this is no longer to be the case. From now on any new patients receiving a private ADHD diagnosis and referred on to NHS services will be added to the bottom of the NHS assessment clinic waiting list with a several year wait.
As a result, Links Medical Centre will not be taking over any new prescriptions for ADHD medications if a patient has only been seen by private psychiatry services.
If we had agreed to take over your prescription prior to March 2025, or if you are under the NHS review system, we will continue to provide your prescription as long as you attend routine monitoring as requested.
The above guidance may be subject to change dependent on practice workload and ongoing guidance from NHS Lothian.
Any feedback or complaints about this issue should be directed to The Patient Experience Team: Mainpoint, 102 Westport Edinburgh EH3 9DN Telephone: 0131 536 3370 (9am – 2pm) Email: LOTH.feedback@nhs.scot