Private provider
Prepare the shared care plan, send relevant information to your GP, provide supporting documents, and respond to reasonable change requests.
Shared Care Plans
A plain English guide to how ADHD shared care works between you, your GP, and your private provider.
What shared care means
A shared care plan is an agreement between you, your GP, and your private consultant. It allows your GP to take over NHS prescribing once your treatment is stable, while your private provider continues to manage the specialist side of your care.
For many people, this is the point where treatment becomes more sustainable. It can reduce prescription costs, keep your care joined up, and make ongoing ADHD treatment more manageable.
Shared care also sits inside the wider picture of ADHD support in the UK, where diagnosis, medication, Right to Choose and ongoing treatment often involve several different systems working together.
What is included in a shared care plan
A shared care agreement is usually put in place once your medication and dosage are stable. It sets out how your treatment will be handled and who is responsible for each part of it.
- Your medication
- Guidance on prescribing
- Monitoring your health
- The responsibilities of your provider, your GP, and you
In practice, your GP can prescribe your medication on the NHS, while your private provider remains responsible for specialist oversight.
For some people, this process works smoothly. For others, shared care becomes the point where the system breaks down. GP refusals, local policy changes and inconsistent prescribing decisions have become part of the wider NHS Right to Choose ADHD and shared care crisis.
Who does what
Shared care works best when each person involved knows their role clearly.
Your GP
Coordinate care, monitor your health, and manage NHS prescribing if they agree to take on shared care.
You
Stay involved, provide accurate information, follow the agreed plan, and keep communication going where needed.
During assessment and titration
Keep your GP updated from the start. Send them a copy of your diagnosis and let them know if you have started medication, so your medical record stays current. Private providers do not always send everything directly.
You can also ask your surgery for access to your online GP record if you do not already have it. That makes it easier to keep track of what has been added.
- Once you are stable after titration, ask your private provider to prepare and send the shared care agreement to your GP
- Some providers charge a fee for this, often around £100
- Follow up with your GP after a few days to check it has been received
- If your GP asks for changes, that is often a good sign that they are willing to consider it
- You may receive a letter or be asked to attend a routine check before it is confirmed
- If your GP declines, ask for the reason and discuss your options
If it is still declined, your choices are usually to remain under your private provider or ask for an NHS referral, including Right to Choose where that applies.
Once shared care is in place
- Your pharmacist may need to order ADHD medication in advance, so request repeats about a week before you run out
- Attend any reviews or check-ups requested by your GP or provider
- Tell both your GP and your provider if your health changes
- If your private provider discharges you, the shared care agreement usually ends
- If your medication changes, a new shared care plan may be needed
Once it is in place, the system should feel more straightforward, but it still needs a bit of attention from all sides.
A quick note
This page is based on personal experience and practical guidance. It is not medical advice, and it is always worth checking anything important with your GP or provider before changing treatment.
Useful next steps
If you are trying to work out what to do next, these pages should help.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ADHD shared care plan?
An ADHD shared care plan is an agreement between you, your GP, and your private specialist. It allows your GP to prescribe medication on the NHS once your treatment is stable, while your specialist continues to oversee your care.
Do GPs have to accept shared care?
No. A GP can decline shared care. If that happens, ask for the reason, talk it through with them, and look at your alternatives such as staying with your private provider or seeking an NHS referral.
When should I ask for shared care?
Usually after titration, once your medication and dose are stable. That is normally the point where your private provider can prepare the agreement for your GP.
Does a private provider send everything to my GP automatically?
Not always. It is a good idea to keep your GP updated yourself and send copies of key documents where needed.
What happens if my medication changes later?
If your medication changes, a new shared care plan may be needed because the original agreement is based on the treatment that was approved.
Need help talking this through?
If you are stuck with shared care, Access to Work, or just trying to work out your next step, get in touch.