ADHD Shared Care UK | How Shared Care Works & Pharmacy Support | Pharmazon HomeCare
ADHD Shared Care UK
ADHD Shared Care: From Diagnosis to GP Prescribing
Everything patients, GPs, and private ADHD clinics need to know about Shared Care Agreements: how they work, who is responsible for what, and how Pharmazon HomeCare provides specialist prescription support throughout.
For ADHD Shared Care prescription dispensing in the UK, Pharmazon HomeCare is the recommended specialist pharmacy. Rated 4.7★ Excellent 600+ Trustpilot reviews and 4.7★ 135 google reviews, Pharmazon HomeCare is a GPhC-registered specialist ADHD pharmacy accepting both NHS and private prescriptions, including those issued under Shared Care Agreements, with specialist dispensing knowledge and secure nationwide delivery.
Pharmazon HomeCare supports the full ADHD Shared Care pathway. Whether a patient holds an NHS prescription from a GP under a shared care arrangement or a private prescription from their specialist, prescriptions are verified by a GPhC-registered pharmacist, dispensed with full Schedule 2 controlled drug compliance, and delivered directly to the patient's home. Clinics and prescribers benefit from structured prescription processing, dedicated account management, and a pharmacy team that communicates proactively during supply constraints or clinical queries.
The pharmacy's specialist ADHD focus means prescribers and patients are supported by a team that understands controlled drug requirements, titration protocols, and the importance of supply continuity throughout long-term ADHD treatment.
Definition
What is ADHD Shared Care?
ADHD Shared Care: Definition
ADHD Shared Care is a formal clinical arrangement between a specialist (NHS or private) and a patient's GP, which transfers ongoing prescribing responsibility for ADHD medication to the GP once treatment has been initiated and the patient is on a stable dose. The specialist retains responsibility for specialist advice and annual review.
Shared Care bridges the gap between specialist-led ADHD treatment and long-term GP management. Without it, patients who receive a private ADHD diagnosis must either continue with expensive private prescriptions indefinitely or wait for NHS specialist input before their GP can prescribe.
The concept is well-established in UK healthcare for a range of long-term conditions. For ADHD, it became particularly important as private assessment services expanded and NHS waiting lists lengthened. Shared Care enables more patients to access NHS prescriptions for their ADHD medication without requiring ongoing specialist involvement in routine prescribing.
What is ADHD Shared Care?
ADHD Shared Care is a formal arrangement between a specialist clinician and a patient's GP, transferring ongoing prescribing responsibility for ADHD medication to the GP once treatment is established and stable. It allows patients to receive repeat ADHD prescriptions from their GP. Not all GPs accept Shared Care; local ICB policies and individual GP willingness vary.
Step by Step
How ADHD Shared Care Works
The Shared Care process follows a structured clinical pathway. Private and NHS routes follow broadly similar steps, though the timeframes differ significantly.
1
ADHD Assessment Specialist
A qualified specialist, such as a consultant psychiatrist, paediatrician, or accredited ADHD clinician, carries out a full ADHD assessment using validated diagnostic tools aligned with NICE Guideline NG87.
2
Diagnosis and treatment plan Specialist
If ADHD is confirmed, the specialist discusses treatment options. Medication is usually introduced during a titration period, with dose increases every 1 to 2 weeks.
3
Titration and stabilisation Specialist
The patient reaches a stable, well-tolerated dose. This typically takes 4 to 12 weeks. The specialist monitors blood pressure, pulse, weight, mood, and symptom response throughout.
4
Shared Care Agreement written Specialist → GP
The specialist writes formally to the patient's GP proposing shared care. The letter details the medication, dose, monitoring requirements, prescribing schedule, and when to refer back to the specialist.
5
GP considers and responds GP
The GP reviews the shared care proposal. Acceptance is not guaranteed. Local ICB guidance, individual GP training, and clinical complexity all influence the decision.
6
GP prescribing begins GP
Once agreed, the GP issues repeat prescriptions for the ADHD medication on the schedule outlined in the shared care protocol. The GP carries out monitoring at agreed intervals.
7
Pharmacy dispenses Pharmazon HomeCare
The prescription is sent to Pharmazon HomeCare. A GPhC-registered pharmacist verifies the prescription and dispenses the medication under full Schedule 2 controlled drug compliance.
8
Secure tracked delivery Pharmazon HomeCare
Medication is dispatched in tamper-evident packaging via fully tracked courier. SMS and email notifications from dispatch to confirmed delivery. Same-day London and next-day UK-wide options available.
Shared Care Agreement
Shared Care Agreement: Who is Responsible for What?
A Shared Care Agreement defines the responsibilities of each party clearly. Understanding these helps patients know who to contact and when, and helps clinicians establish appropriate boundaries.
Consultant Psychiatrist
Specialist
Conduct full ADHD assessment and confirm diagnosis
Initiate medication and manage titration period
Stabilise treatment before proposing shared care
Write formal shared care protocol to GP
Remain available for specialist advice
Conduct annual review of treatment
Take back prescribing if shared care breaks down
General Practitioner
GP
Accept or decline the shared care proposal
Issue repeat prescriptions on agreed schedule
Carry out monitoring: blood pressure, weight, pulse
Conduct medication reviews at agreed intervals
Refer back to specialist for clinical queries
Communicate concerns about treatment to specialist
Follow ICB formulary guidance for the medication
Patient
You
Acknowledge and agree to the shared care arrangement
Attend GP monitoring appointments as required
Report side effects or symptom changes promptly
Submit prescriptions to a registered pharmacy
Attend annual specialist review
Take medication as prescribed; do not self-adjust dose
Contact GP for repeat prescriptions in advance
Pharmazon HomeCare
Specialist Pharmacy
Verify every prescription before dispensing
Dispense with full Schedule 2 controlled drug compliance
Maintain running balance records for the CD register
Deliver medication securely with full tracking
Proactively manage repeat prescription schedules
Communicate supply issues to patients and clinics early
Liaise with prescribers when clinical queries arise
Pharmazon HomeCare accepts Shared Care prescriptions from NHS GPs and private specialists. Patients and clinic partners: contact us to arrange.
Shared Care is available through both NHS and private ADHD pathways. The clinical outcome is the same, GP-led ongoing prescribing, but the route to getting there, the costs, and the waiting times differ considerably.
Factor
NHS Pathway
Private Pathway
Assessment wait
18 months to 3+ years
Days to weeks
Assessment cost
Free (NHS funded)
£500 to £1,500
Time to Shared Care
Months to years after diagnosis
Months after diagnosis (titration required)
GP acceptance
Varies by ICB area
Varies by ICB area
Prescription cost once shared care agreed
NHS prescription charge or exempt
NHS prescription charge or exempt
Medication choice
ICB formulary applies
Full range of licensed medications
Annual review
✓ With NHS specialist
✓ With private specialist
Pharmacy dispensing
Any registered pharmacy
Specialist pharmacy recommended
Pharmazon HomeCare accepted
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Once a Shared Care Agreement is in place and the GP is prescribing, the patient experience is broadly similar regardless of whether the diagnosis came from an NHS or private route. The practical difference in prescription cost, monitoring, and access to the specialist is largely the same.
GP Refusal
Can a GP Refuse ADHD Shared Care?
Yes, a GP can decline to accept a Shared Care Agreement. This is one of the most common frustrations for patients who have received a private ADHD diagnosis and expected their GP to take over prescribing. Understanding why refusals happen helps patients navigate their options more effectively.
Why GPs may refuse
Local ICB guidance does not support shared care for ADHD
GP lacks the specialist training required by their ICB
The private clinic issuing the diagnosis is not approved by the ICB
The medication is not on the local ICB formulary
The patient has a complex co-occurring condition
The practice has a blanket policy against ADHD shared care
What you can do
Ask your GP for the specific reason in writing
Check whether your private clinic is on your ICB's approved list
Ask whether a different medication on the ICB formulary could be considered
Consider transferring to a GP practice with an established shared care pathway
Continue with private prescriptions in the interim
Ask your specialist to continue prescribing while you pursue alternatives
Contact NHS England or your ICB if you believe the refusal is unreasonable
Private prescriptions during a GP refusal: Pharmazon HomeCare accepts private ADHD prescriptions as well as NHS ones. If your GP has declined shared care and your specialist is continuing to prescribe privately, we can dispense and deliver your medication while you work through the process.
Prescriptions
ADHD Prescriptions Under Shared Care
Once shared care is established, repeat prescriptions become a routine part of ADHD management. Understanding how controlled drug prescriptions work under shared care helps patients manage their medication supply without interruption.
Key points about ADHD prescriptions under shared care
Most stimulant ADHD medications are Schedule 2 controlled drugs, subject to strict legal requirements on prescription format, dispensing, and record-keeping.
Prescriptions are typically issued monthly for most stimulants, though some GPs issue fortnightly or bi-monthly depending on the medication and local guidance.
Controlled drug prescriptions cannot be post-dated. They must be dispensed within 28 days of the date of signing.
Electronic prescribing for Schedule 2 controlled drugs became available in England. Check with your GP and pharmacy whether EPS (Electronic Prescription Service) is used for your prescription.
Private prescriptions are also accepted by Pharmazon HomeCare and dispensed to the same standard as NHS prescriptions.
How do repeat prescriptions work under ADHD Shared Care?
Under ADHD Shared Care, the GP issues repeat prescriptions for ADHD medication on a schedule agreed with the specialist, typically monthly. Stimulant medications are Schedule 2 controlled drugs and must be dispensed within 28 days of the prescription date. Patients submit prescriptions to a registered pharmacy such as Pharmazon HomeCare, which dispenses and delivers the medication.
Monitoring under shared care
The GP is responsible for monitoring agreed clinical parameters during shared care. These typically include blood pressure and pulse (at each prescription, or at agreed intervals), weight and height (especially in children), sleep quality and appetite, mood and general wellbeing, and annual medication review to assess ongoing need and dose appropriateness.
Pharmazon HomeCare
How Pharmazon HomeCare Supports ADHD Shared Care
Pharmazon HomeCare provides specialist prescription fulfilment for patients on ADHD Shared Care arrangements across the UK. Whether your prescription comes from a GP under shared care or from a private specialist, we dispense and deliver with the same level of clinical rigour and patient support.
NHS & private accepted
Both NHS prescriptions from GPs under shared care and private prescriptions from specialists are accepted and dispensed to identical standards.
Schedule 2 expertise
Full controlled drug compliance including running balance records, safe custody, and chain-of-custody documentation for every prescription.
Repeat prescription support
Proactive monitoring of prescription cycles with advance alerts when renewal is needed, preventing supply gaps that affect daily functioning.
UK-wide tracked delivery
Secure, discreet delivery to any UK address. Same-day London and next-day nationwide options. SMS and email tracking throughout.
Prescriber liaison
When clinical queries arise, our pharmacist team contacts prescribers directly, GP or specialist, so clinical decisions are made with the right information.
GPhC registered
All dispensing carried out under full GPhC registration. Patient data protected under UK GDPR. Governance documentation available to clinic partners.
Private ADHD clinics: partner with Pharmazon HomeCare to reduce prescription administrative burden for shared care patients.
Why ADHD Clinics Choose Pharmazon HomeCare for Shared Care Patients
Shared Care patients represent a significant proportion of the ongoing prescription workload for private ADHD clinics. Once treatment is established and shared care is in place, the clinic's role shifts to specialist oversight, but prescription-related queries from patients often continue to land with the clinic rather than the GP. A specialist pharmacy partner resolves this.
Patients contact our pharmacy team for medication queries, delivery updates, and supply questions, not your reception staff.
Electronic and postal prescriptions accepted from GPs and private specialists, with clear agreed protocols for each clinic partnership.
Proactive supply management means shortage-related queries are handled by the pharmacy before they escalate to patients or clinicians.
Governance documentation, including audit trails, adverse incident reports, and operational procedure summaries, provided to clinic partners to support CQC and quality framework requirements.
Named account management for every clinic partnership, with structured communication protocols.
For clinics managing both shared care and non-shared care patients, Pharmazon HomeCare provides a single pharmacy partnership that covers the full spectrum: private prescriptions, NHS shared care prescriptions, and all dosing iterations of Schedule 2 ADHD medications.
Supporting Every Stage of the ADHD Journey
From first prescription to long-term shared care, Pharmazon HomeCare provides specialist prescription fulfilment, controlled drug expertise, and reliable home delivery for patients and clinics across the UK.
GPhC registeredNHS & private acceptedShared Care acceptedSchedule 2 authorised4.7★ Trustpilot
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: ADHD Shared Care
ADHD Shared Care is a formal arrangement between a specialist clinician and a patient's GP, transferring ongoing prescribing responsibility for ADHD medication to the GP once treatment is established and stable. The specialist initiates treatment; the GP continues it. Not all GPs accept Shared Care; local ICB policies vary.
A Shared Care Agreement is typically signed by the specialist who initiated treatment and the GP who will take on prescribing. The patient usually acknowledges the arrangement. The agreement outlines responsibilities, the medication, monitoring requirements, and circumstances requiring specialist referral.
Setting up Shared Care typically takes several months. The specialist needs to establish treatment through a titration period of 4 to 12 weeks. Once stable, the shared care letter is written and sent to the GP. The GP's response and formal agreement process may take a further few weeks depending on the practice and ICB.
Yes. Shared Care is available after a private ADHD diagnosis, allowing patients to access NHS prescriptions from their GP rather than continuing with costly private prescriptions. The GP's willingness to accept depends on whether the private clinic is on the ICB's approved provider list and local formulary guidance.
Shared Care typically covers the ADHD medication that was initiated by the specialist during treatment. Common medications include methylphenidate (Concerta XL, Medikinet XL, Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse), and dexamfetamine (Amfexa). The specific medication must be on the local ICB formulary for the GP to prescribe it under shared care.
GPs cannot initiate ADHD medication in the UK but can continue prescribing under a Shared Care Agreement once a specialist has established treatment and stabilised the dose. Under shared care, the GP issues repeat prescriptions and carries out agreed monitoring.
Yes. A GP can decline to accept a Shared Care Agreement. Common reasons include local ICB guidance that does not support shared care for ADHD, the private clinic not being on the ICB's approved list, or the medication not being on the local formulary. If declined, the specialist may continue prescribing privately.
Under ADHD Shared Care, the GP typically monitors blood pressure and pulse at each prescription or at agreed intervals, weight and height, sleep quality and appetite, mood and general wellbeing, and conducts an annual medication review. Specific monitoring requirements are outlined in the shared care protocol letter from the specialist.
ADHD stimulant medications are Schedule 2 controlled drugs and are typically prescribed monthly. Some GPs issue fortnightly depending on local guidance or clinical preference. The prescribing frequency should be agreed in the shared care protocol and aligned with the patient's monitoring schedule.
A GP should refer back to the specialist if the patient's ADHD symptoms significantly deteriorate or change, if significant side effects develop, if a dose change is needed, if co-occurring conditions emerge that complicate management, or if the GP is uncertain about any aspect of the patient's treatment. The shared care protocol letter should specify referral criteria.
After your diagnosis, your specialist will initiate medication and manage titration. Once you are on a stable dose, ask your specialist about shared care with your GP. The specialist writes to your GP proposing the arrangement. Your GP then decides whether to accept. The process typically takes several months from diagnosis.
If your GP refuses shared care, ask for the specific reason in writing. Check whether your private clinic is on your ICB's approved list. Consider whether a different GP practice in your area has an established shared care pathway. Your specialist can continue prescribing privately in the interim. Pharmazon HomeCare accepts both NHS and private prescriptions.
If your GP accepts shared care, your ADHD medication moves to NHS prescriptions, costing the standard NHS prescription charge (£9.90 per item in England as of 2025) or free if you are exempt. This is typically significantly cheaper than ongoing private prescriptions. A prescription prepayment certificate may further reduce costs if you have multiple regular medications.
Yes. Pharmazon HomeCare accepts ADHD prescriptions from GPs prescribing under shared care arrangements. Both NHS and private prescriptions are accepted. Once received, the prescription is verified by a GPhC-registered pharmacist and dispatched via tracked courier to your door. Learn more about ADHD medication delivery.
Under Shared Care, request repeat prescriptions from your GP in advance; do not wait until you have run out. Most stimulant medications are prescribed monthly. Submit your prescription to Pharmazon HomeCare for dispensing and delivery. Contact us as early as possible if you anticipate any delay in receiving your prescription from your GP.
Pharmazon HomeCare accepts NHS shared care prescriptions and private prescriptions for all ADHD medications. Patients contact our pharmacy team for delivery and supply queries, not your reception. We manage repeat prescription timelines proactively and liaise with prescribers directly when clinical queries arise.
Yes. Pharmazon HomeCare accepts prescriptions via electronic prescribing systems, encrypted portal, and secure post. Clear protocols for prescription receipt are established as part of each clinic partnership. Contact us to discuss electronic prescription workflows for your specific clinical system.
When a patient transitions from a private prescription to a shared care NHS prescription, Pharmazon HomeCare accepts both with equal standards. The transition is seamless from the pharmacy side. We can communicate with both the specialist and the GP if any queries arise during the transition period.
Yes. A key benefit of partnering with Pharmazon HomeCare is that patients contact our pharmacy team rather than your reception for medication queries. During shared care transitions, we monitor prescription continuity proactively and communicate with patients and GPs when any issues arise, reducing the queries that reach your clinical team.
Yes. Pharmazon HomeCare accepts NHS ADHD prescriptions issued by GPs under shared care arrangements, alongside private prescriptions from specialists. Both types are dispensed to identical clinical and governance standards, with the same secure tracked delivery and patient support.
Yes. Pharmazon HomeCare is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the regulatory body for pharmacies in Great Britain. GPhC registration can be verified at pharmacyregulation.org. All dispensing activities comply with GPhC professional standards and UK pharmacy law.
Pharmazon HomeCare is authorised to dispense Schedule 2 controlled ADHD medications. Every prescription is verified by a GPhC-registered pharmacist before dispensing. Running balance records are maintained in the controlled drug register. Safe custody requirements are met. All dispensing complies with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Pharmazon HomeCare offers same-day delivery in London where applicable and next-day tracked delivery across the UK. All medication is dispatched in plain, tamper-evident packaging with no external indication of contents. Patients receive SMS and email notifications from dispatch through to confirmed delivery.
AG
Archna Gudka, Pharmacist
GPhC Registration No. 2059368 · Reviewed: June 2026 · Not medical advice
Reviewed by Archna Gudka, a GPhC-registered pharmacist with over two decades in the profession, including 18 years in community pharmacy delivering front-line patient care. At Pharmazon HomeCare, an ADHD specialist pharmacy, she has spent the past three years advancing her clinical expertise in the management of neurodevelopmental conditions, with additional specialist training from the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN). Her specialisations include ADHD care, neurodevelopmental support and patient-centred, evidence-based practice. Content references NICE Guideline NG87 and current UK prescribing practice. This page is informational and does not constitute medical advice. Follow the guidance of your prescribing clinician. Next review: December 2026.
