Whist these services are offered via the NHS and are free for patients, Right to Choose services are often private companies who are contracted to deliver services to the NHS. When choosing a Right to Choose service, it is important to consider the following points, relating to what you should expect from this process and your preferred service:
Choice
Your GP cannot choose for you. You need to research the options and make the choice yourself, then contact your GP to inform them of your chosen provider and they will advise you on how to proceed. This list of providers is constantly changing, and the services’ websites are usually a good place to find out if they offer the service you need. Several services are available by searching on ‘Right to choose ASD’, ‘Right to choose ADHD’ and on sites such as ADHD UK.
Referral
The number of Right to Choose services is ever growing and each service may have its own referral process. Most providers need a core set of information, so may ask you to complete a referral questionnaire or a self-assessment score as part of a standardised referral. If the service needs additional information, they can request it from the practice or by asking you directly.
For more information and support services available, please visit:
Shared Care Agreements & Specialist Medication Policy
What is a Shared Care Agreement (SCA)?
A Shared Care Agreement is an NHS arrangement where a specialist asks a GP practice to take over prescribing a medication they have initiated. This is a request, not a requirement. Millfield Surgery will only accept shared care when it is clinically safe and appropriate. The prescriber issuing the medication is responsible for ensuring it is safe, appropriate, and monitored correctly. This requires adequate knowledge, training, and capacity.
What are specialist medications?
Some medications started by specialist NHS teams do not have a Shared Care Agreement. These drugs may be complex to dose, used off-licence, or require regular specialist monitoring such as blood tests or physical checks.
Our Policy
Millfield Surgery does not take on specialist prescribing outside of a formal NHS Shared Care Agreement with appropriate specialist support and funding.
We have updated our position on specialist medications initiated by:
• Private clinics
• Right to Choose providers
• NHS services without a prescribing or monitoring team
This aligns with local practices and LMC guidance. Patient safety is our priority. Prescribing specialist medications without robust specialist oversight carries significant risk. Monitoring these medications requires time, expertise, and careful review of results. General Practice has limited resources, and allocating large amounts of clinician time to specialist prescribing may reduce the number of GP appointments available to all patients.
For futher information on our Shared Care Shared Care Agreements & Specialist Medication Policy, please see Practice Policies
