ADHD and ASD Services at Kingswood Surgery
Due to unprecedented demand and significant funding challenges, local NHS services for ADHD and Autism (ASD) assessments are currently under immense pressure. To ensure we provide a safe and sustainable service for all our patients, Kingswood Surgery has implemented the following protocols.
Important Update: Shared Care Agreements
Kingswood Surgery will no longer enter into new Shared Care Agreements (SCAs) with any provider, including Right to Choose (RTC) or private services.
This decision has been made to prioritise patient safety. Managing complex, controlled medications requires intensive monitoring and seamless communication between specialists and GPs. Given the current volume of providers and the lack of standardised monitoring resources, we cannot safely guarantee the necessary oversight required for these prescriptions.
Consequently, if a diagnosis is made by a non-local NHS provider (CAHMS or the local mental health team), that provider will remain responsible for all ongoing prescribing and clinical monitoring. There is no internal appeals process for this policy.
NHS Right to Choose (RTC) Referrals
If you wish to exercise your Right to Choose for an ADHD or ASD assessment, the responsibility for coordinating the referral lies with the patient. To begin this process, you must:
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Identify a suitable provider: Research and select a provider that accepts NHS Right to Choose patients.
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Secure Communication: Provide us with an official nhs.net email address for the provider. We cannot send clinical information to insecure or generic "info@" email addresses.
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Standard Referral Process: Ensure the provider accepts a standard GP referral letter.
Once you have completed these three steps and provided us with the necessary details, we will send you a questionnaire to complete. This ensures we have the specific clinical data required to support your referral.
Please Note: Kingswood Surgery does not complete provider-specific forms, nor do we log into third-party websites to upload data. With dozens of different providers each requiring unique documentation, it is neither practical nor safe for our clinical team to navigate multiple different administrative systems. In line with general NHS policy, a standard clinical referral letter containing the patient’s medical history is the appropriate method for transferring care.
Adults: Accessing Services
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Local Services: Most local NHS adult ADHD/ASD services are currently closed to new referrals.
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Criteria: You must complete the relevant self-screening tools (e.g., the ASRS for ADHD or AQ-10 for Autism) and demonstrate that symptoms significantly impact your daily life.
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Right to Choose: While we can refer you to an RTC provider (subject to the requirements above), please remember that Kingswood Surgery will not take over the prescribing of any medications initiated by these providers.
Private Assessments and Treatment
Patients choosing to see a private consultant should be aware of the following:
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Prescriptions: NHS GPs cannot issue private prescriptions or continue treatments initiated privately.
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Ongoing Costs: You must be prepared to fund the cost of private medication and specialist reviews indefinitely, as the GP will not take over prescribing via a Shared Care Agreement.
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NHS Waitlists: Transferring from private care to the NHS requires a new referral to an NHS specialist. You will be subject to standard waiting times, and the NHS specialist is not obligated to agree with a private diagnosis or treatment plan.
Children and Adolescents
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NHS Referrals: We strongly encourage using local NHS services (e.g., CAMHS or Buckinghamshire Children’s ADHD service). These services can liaise directly with schools and SENCOs to ensure an integrated support plan.
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School Role: Schools should ideally refer children directly to the relevant neurodevelopmental pathways if symptoms are primarily observed in the educational setting.
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Private Providers: As with adults, we do not enter into shared care with private paediatric providers. Many virtual-only services do not meet the criteria for NHS GP collaborative care. If a child is diagnosed privately, they will need to be referred to an NHS specialist for a full reassessment before any NHS prescribing can be considered.