Can my GP legally refuse shared care?

Yes. Shared care is a voluntary agreement and GPs are not obliged to enter into one. You can ask the practice manager for the reason in writing and escalate to your ICB, but you cannot compel a GP to accept shared care.

How long does shared care take to set up?

Once your private specialist sends the shared-care request and your dose is stable, GPs typically take 2–6 weeks to confirm. Some practices ask for a face-to-face appointment to discuss before agreeing.

Does shared care cover the cost of my private assessment?

No. Shared care only transfers prescribing of medication. Your initial private assessment, titration and any private follow-ups remain your cost.

NHS

6 min readUpdated April 2026

NHS shared care for ADHD: what it is and how to get it

Shared care is the difference between paying £80 a month for medication privately and paying the standard £9.90 NHS prescription charge. Here's how it actually works.

What shared care actually means

Shared care is a written agreement between your private specialist and your NHS GP. Once you've been diagnosed and titrated to a stable dose privately, your GP takes over the routine prescribing on the NHS. Your specialist remains responsible for annual reviews and any dose changes. You pay the standard NHS prescription charge instead of private prices.

Why your GP might say no

Shared care is voluntary for GPs. Common reasons for declining: the GP practice has a blanket policy against shared care for ADHD, the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) has issued guidance discouraging it, the GP doesn't feel confident managing controlled drugs, or the private provider's report doesn't meet local prescribing standards. Refusal is more common in some regions than others.

How to maximise your chances

Pick a provider that explicitly offers shared care and will write directly to your GP with a recognised shared-care protocol. Ask your GP practice in advance — before you book your assessment — whether they accept shared care from private providers. If they refuse, ask whether they will accept it from a specific named provider, since some practices accept some providers and not others.

If your GP refuses

You have three options: (1) keep paying privately for repeat prescriptions, (2) switch to a GP practice that does accept shared care (you can register with any practice that has open lists), or (3) request an NHS ADHD assessment via Right to Choose so the prescribing is NHS from the start.

Shared care by city

Local guides covering shared care for the cities we have the most provider data on.

Or browse the full list via any guides index entry below.

Frequently asked

Can my GP legally refuse shared care?: Yes. Shared care is a voluntary agreement and GPs are not obliged to enter into one. You can ask the practice manager for the reason in writing and escalate to your ICB, but you cannot compel a GP to accept shared care.
How long does shared care take to set up?: Once your private specialist sends the shared-care request and your dose is stable, GPs typically take 2–6 weeks to confirm. Some practices ask for a face-to-face appointment to discuss before agreeing.
Does shared care cover the cost of my private assessment?: No. Shared care only transfers prescribing of medication. Your initial private assessment, titration and any private follow-ups remain your cost.

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