This leaflet provides information about the condition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), general management options and the Trust's Adult ADHD service.
This leaflet tells you about ADHD. It also tells you about treatment, our Adult ADHD Service, and things that may help you manage ADHD.
If you do not understand something, please ask a member of staff to explain it.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD often starts when you are a child. It can carry on when you are an adult.
ADHD can affect attention. This means you may find it hard to listen, focus, or finish tasks.
ADHD can also make you feel very restless. You may act before thinking.
We want to understand how ADHD affects your everyday life. ADHD may affect your home life, work, education, relationships, family life, or how you feel about yourself. We will talk about this with you after your assessment.
ADHD can run in families. This means close family members may also have ADHD.
ADHD is linked to how the brain works. The brain uses chemicals to send messages.
Other things may also play a part. These can include problems before birth, or difficult times when growing up. ADHD is usually caused by a mix of things.
The Adult ADHD Service supports adults with ADHD.
We can help you understand ADHD and how it affects your daily life.
We mainly offer ADHD medicine. We can help you find the medicine and dose that works best for you.
We will check if your medicine is helping. We will also ask if it is causing any side effects.
You may be able to speak to a Peer Supporter. Peer Supporters are staff who have ADHD. They can share ideas that have helped them.
The Adult ADHD Service is for adults who may have ADHD.
It is also for adults who have already had an ADHD assessment and need more support.
The service may be right for you if ADHD is affecting your daily life.
This could include problems at home, at work, in education, or in relationships.
We will talk with you about your needs and what support may help.
If another service is better for your needs, we will explain this and help you understand what happens next.
You need a referral to use the Adult ADHD Service.
A referral is when a health professional asks our service to see you.
Your GP (family doctor) or another health professional can talk to you about whether a referral may be right for you. They will explain what information is needed and what happens next.
The ADHD Service mainly provides treatment and medication.
We can help you:
- choose the medicine that may work best for you
- find the right dose
- check if the medicine is helping
- check for side effects
- see you regularly while your medicine is being changed
Your first appointment/review
Your first appointment is called a review. You will usually have a review about once a month.
When your medicine is working well, we will write to your GP. Your GP may then prescribe your ADHD medicine. This is called a Shared Care Agreement. This means the Adult ADHD Service and your GP work together to support your ADHD treatment.
Your GP practice will decide if it can agree to shared care.
Ongoing support
If your GP does not agree, the Adult ADHD Service may keep giving you your prescriptions. We will also check how your medicine is working.
The Adult ADHD Service does not offer talking therapy for ADHD. If talking therapy may help with another mental health need, your clinician will talk to you about this.
Simple changes to your daily life may help you manage ADHD and support your medicine.
We also have Peer Supporters. Peer Supporters are staff who have ADHD. They may share ideas and tips that have helped them.
Reviews and discharge
Your support will be reviewed regularly to make sure it is helping you. You will be involved in these reviews and can talk about what is working well or what may need to change.
At each review, we will check:
- How your medicine is working
- Any side effects
- How you are managing day to day
- Any changes in your life
- Your blood pressure
- Your pulse
- Your weight, if needed
When you no longer need support from our team, we will talk with you about leaving the service. Your support from our team will end, and your care may continue with your GP or another service if needed.
The team will make sure you know where to get support in the future if you need it.
Different people may support you with your ADHD care and treatment.
- The Adult ADHD Service – we may help with ADHD medicine, reviews, side effects, and dose changes.
- Your GP – your GP may prescribe your ADHD medicine after it is working well for you. This is called shared care.
- Peer Supporters – these are staff who have ADHD. They may share ideas and tips that have helped them.
- Your healthcare team – you and your healthcare team will talk about your treatment and whether anything needs to change.
You may not see all these people. Only the people who are right for your needs will be involved in your care.
Your care and treatment will be planned with you. The team will listen to what is important to you and agree a plan that meets your needs and goals.
Support may include regular appointments, help to manage your mental health, and advice or support with daily life. Some people may be offered medication or talking therapies if these are right for them.
You will be involved in decisions about your care, and you can ask questions at any time. Your care plan can be changed if your needs change.
We understand that family members, carers, or other people who support you may be important to your recovery.
With your permission, the team can involve your family, carers, or supporters in your care. This may include inviting them to appointments or sharing information that helps them support you.
We will always respect your choices and your right to privacy. We will only share information with other people if you agree, unless there is a serious safety concern.
Carers may also be offered information and signposting to services that can support them in their caring role. A range of resources are available at www.
Appointments
Appointments are usually arranged by the Team. This may be by letter, phone call, text message, or other agreed method.
Appointments may take place at a clinic, or by phone or video call, depending on your needs and what has been agreed with you.
If you cannot attend an appointment
If you cannot attend an appointment, please contact the team as soon as possible to let us know. This helps us offer the appointment to someone else and arrange another time for you.
If you miss appointments and do not tell us, we may need to review how we support you.
Contacting the Team
The team will explain the best way to contact them and the hours they are available. This may include phone or email.
If you need help outside of these hours or in an emergency, you should contact your GP, NHS 111, your local crisis service, or call 999.
If you need urgent mental health support but it is not an emergency, you can contact NHS 111, option 2 for urgent health advice at any time. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You’ll speak to a mental health professional who will listen and help you find the right support.
If you are Deaf or have communication difficulties, you can contact us in a crisis 24/7 by:
- Texting 07860 064 775
- Using https://
signvideo.co.uk/ nhs111/ - Contacting 18001 111 using the Relay UK app
Call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) if:
- you, or someone else have harmed themselves or is at immediate risk
- there is a medical emergency and someone is seriously ill or injured
If you are not in your local area and need urgent help from a local crisis team, you can call the hospital switchboard on 0191 246 6800.
Being involved in decisions
You have the right to be involved in decisions about your care and treatment. The team will listen to you, explain your options, and answer any questions you may have.
We will work with you to agree what support is right for you, based on your needs, wishes, and goals.
Consent and confidentiality
Your information is kept private and confidential. This means we do not share information about you without your permission.
We will ask for your consent before sharing information with family members, carers, or other services, unless there is a serious concern about safety.
You can ask questions at any time about how your information is used.
Interpreters, accessibility, and reasonable adjustments
We want to make sure you can access our service in a way that works best for you.
Interpreters can be provided if you need support with language or communication. Information can also be made available in other formats, such as large print or easy-read.
Please tell the team if you need any changes to help you access the service, such as extra time, communication support, or help getting to appointments.
All our main outpatient departments are easy to reach by public transport.
If you need help planning your journey please ask us when booking your first appointment or contact the Traveline office and website:
Telephone: 0871 200 22 33 Website: www.traveline.info
If you are receiving benefits, you may be able to claim back some travel costs. Please bring proof of your benefits and photo ID with you.
Comments, suggestions, compliments or complaints
You can talk to a staff member or use the contacts listed below.
See other ways to give feedback at
www.
Your Voice
You can use this email to tell us what you think about your care. This can be good or bad. You can also ask us to tell you what happens after you send feedback.
Email: yourvoice
Comments and complaints
If something went wrong, please tell us. This will help us improve services.
Email: complaints
Phone: 0191 245 6672
Write to: Complaints Department, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT.
Patient and Liaison Service
PALS is a free and confidential service. They help if you have worries about your care. They support patients, families, and carers.
North of Tyne
(services in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and North Cumbria)
Email: pals@
Phone: 0800 032 0202
South of Tyne
(services in Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Lotus Ward, Middlesbrough)
Email: pals
Phone: 0800 328 4397
- Mental health self help guides – www.
selfhelp.cntw.nhs.uk - NHS website – www.
nhs.uk - Local community organisations may also offer support. The team can help you find these resources.
A list of refences for this resource is available by emailing pic
We are open Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
If you have questions about ADHD or your treatment, please contact the office.
Phone: 0191 287 6250
Email: ADHD
Postal address:
Keegan Court
Grassbanks
Gateshead
Tyne and Wear
NE10 8DX
You can get more details about this leaflet from the Patient Information Centre. This includes how we made the leaflet. We can offer this leaflet in other formats. These are Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, British Sign Language, and other languages. We welcome your feedback about this leaflet. You can email pic
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref: PIC/786/0826 August 2026 V9
Review date 2029
Website: www.
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