ADHD and Autism Assessment for Children

 

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Staff at Gloucester Road Medical Centre are currently unable to prescribe ADHD medication for patients under the age of 18 years old unless they are actively under the care of an NHS secondary care (hospital based) ADHD service.

  • Some patients are obtaining assessments for ADHD through private services that they pay for or through services such as ADHD 360 which is a private service, but the cost of assessment is covered by the NHS through an agreement referred to as ‘right to choose’.
  • Please be aware that if these services make a diagnosis of ADHD and propose treatment with medication, we will not be able to take over the prescribing, even if the service suggests a ‘shared care agreement’.

The provision of ADHD medication for children who have been diagnosed privately is currently something that is being discussed at a regional level.

  • There is not timeframe in which we have been told to expect further guidance, but we hope that an arrangement will be provided that will support us to prescribe for a larger group of children. Until this happens, we will not be able to do so.
  • Where a child is under the care of an NHS paediatric consultant who is continuing to see the child and perform all necessary physical and psychological monitoring on a regular basis, the GP surgery will agree to supply the medication to make the process of obtaining prescriptions easier for our patients.

 

ADHD Assessment

ADHD is a developmental condition defined by inattention (inability to concentrate), hyperactivity (inability to keep still) and impulsiveness (acting without thinking). Behaviours such as aggression, anger and defiance do not suggest ADHD.

Your school's Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCo) can refer your child for an assessment if they feel it is appropriate.

The following forms will need to be completed in a timely manner, which will be sent directly to the parent/carer by the paediatrics team:

  • Conners Rating Scale - Patent and School and child if over 8 years old
  • ADHD Questionnaire from school
  • Educational Psychology Report (if available)

Please ask your school for help with these forms as the referral cannot be done without them.

What information you will need to supply to request an assessment

 

Autism Assessment

The Specialist Autism Assessment Service accepts referrals for children and young people (age two years four months up to the age of 17 years six months), registered with a GP in Bristol, North Somerset, or South Gloucestershire, who are experiencing very significant neurodiversity difficulties associated with suspected autism.

Referrals can be done by:

  • Parents and Carers
  • Health Care Professionals (e.g. community paediatrician, speech and language therapist, school nurse)
  • Educational Staff (e.g. SENCO, nursery key worker)

What information you will need to supply to request an assessment