To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of shared care arrangements between patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and their GPs have been terminated in each of the last five years.

My Department does not hold information on shared care arrangements which may be in place within General Practice.

Shared care arrangements are not between patients and GPs, they can, and must be agreed, between GPs and specialist Consultants, be that Health and Social Care (HSC) or private healthcare providers. In all cases both the GP practice and the specialist Consultant recommending the medication must be in a position to meet future monitoring and assessment requirements as set out in the shared care agreement.

Decisions on whether or not to enter into a shared care arrangement are based upon the clinical judgment of the GP. When a GP considers that specialist Consultant recommended treatment is clinically appropriate; is content that the treatment falls within their clinical remit; and that if necessary appropriate shared care arrangements have been agreed with the HSC and/or private provider and the patient/carers, then they may issue an HSC prescription. However, in doing so, the GP is accepting clinical responsibility for this decision.