ADHD / Autism

Concerns about Autism and/or ADHD

Children’s Autism and ADHD assessment is now a single assessment service which will assess children aged 0 to 17 years for Autism and children aged 6 to 17 years for ADHD. Please note they will not assess children under the age of 6 for ADHD.

Referrals for suspected Autism and ADHD should ideally be done through the school rather than the GP. This is because it is easier for the referral to be coordinated by the school as referral has to include in addition to the Family Information Form – School/Teacher reports and the child must be on My Plan+ (or equivalent) or have EHCP (all of which is coordinated by the school). The attached Autism/ADHD letter can be given to the school to direct them to the pathway and guide them through the pathway.

Please see link to website below for more information and guidance about referrals.

Website
https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/our-teams-and-services/children-and-young-people/camhs/scaas/

Download
Autism/ADHD letter for schools
 
Private assessments
Please note that if a family chooses a privately funded assessment service and a diagnosis of ADHD is made and medication is commenced by the privately funded specialist, as NHS GP practice, we will not be taking over the prescribing of the specialist medication.

ADHD UK publishes a list of private providers commissioned by NHS organisations to undertake ADHD assessments – Right to Choose – ADHD UK. There may still be a significant wait to access these services as demand is high. Advice from NHS England is that assessment and treatment where the patient is stable and optimised on medication will be covered by their elected Right to Choose. Please note that this does not equate to right to ongoing prescriptions through NHS GP after a positive diagnosis.

Website
https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/