If a GP refuses shared care
Shared care is an agreement where a specialist starts a medicine and a GP practice takes over routine prescribing and monitoring. A practice can say no. The prescribing then stays with the specialist service.
In crisis now: NHS 111 (option 2 for mental health) or 999.
What to do
- Ask for the reason in writing. Common ones: the practice does not accept shared care from that provider, has no capacity for the monitoring, or the request did not include a full shared care agreement.
- Ask the specialist to keep prescribing. Under NHS England's prescribing responsibility guidance the service that started the medicine stays responsible until a GP formally agrees to take it on.
- Check what your NHS area says. Integrated care boards publish shared care policies and which providers they accept. Your area page links to the board.
- If you used a private clinic, ask what each repeat prescription costs and whether the clinic can transfer you to an NHS service.
- Raise it with the practice manager, then the board if you think a policy is being applied unfairly. How to complain covers the steps.
What to ask the practice
"Please tell me in writing why shared care has been declined, whether the practice accepts shared care from any ADHD provider, and who will prescribe in the meantime."
Sources:
- Responsibility for prescribing between primary and secondary or tertiary care (NHS England)
- ADHD treatment (nhs.uk)
- ADHD waiting lists by area
Last checked 20 October 2026. The documents linked are the authority. Not medical advice.