Getting ADHD support in place is an achievement. Keeping it running is a different challenge entirely, and one that ADHD itself makes harder. Medication reviews, Access to Work renewals, workplace adjustment check-ins, and therapy progress reviews all happen on different timelines and require different actions from you. Missing a deadline can mean gaps in medication, lapsed funding, or adjustments that quietly disappear. Here's a practical guide to staying on top of all of it.
Medication Reviews
NICE guideline NG87 requires annual medication reviews for adults taking ADHD medication. Under shared care, your GP handles routine monitoring (blood pressure, pulse, weight) at regular intervals, while your specialist conducts a comprehensive annual review. The annual review assesses whether your medication is still working effectively, whether the dose needs adjusting, whether side effects have changed, and whether additional support would be beneficial.
In practice, the review invitation often depends on your GP surgery's systems. Some surgeries proactively contact you; others expect you to book. Set a calendar reminder for one month before your annual review is due, and contact your surgery if you haven't heard from them. If you're still under a private specialist, the review is typically part of your ongoing follow-up appointments.
If your medication review lapses, your GP may refuse to issue further prescriptions until the review is completed. Given that ADHD medications are controlled drugs with specific prescribing requirements, running out of medication because of a missed review is a real risk. Set reminders well in advance.
Access to Work Renewals
Access to Work grants are typically awarded for a fixed period (usually 1-3 years), after which they need renewing. The renewal process involves a reassessment of your needs, which may happen by phone or through a workplace visit. Your support may continue at the same level, increase if your needs have changed, or decrease if your circumstances have improved.
The critical point: start the renewal process before your current grant expires. Access to Work will usually contact you as the end date approaches, but don't rely on this. If your grant is due to expire and you haven't heard anything, contact the Access to Work helpline (0800 121 7479) at least two months before expiry. A gap in funding means a gap in support, and rebuilding it takes time.
Workplace Adjustment Reviews
ACAS recommends that reasonable adjustments are reviewed regularly to check they're still working. Changes in your role, team, manager, office location, or working patterns can all affect whether existing adjustments remain adequate. If you've had a management change, proactively raise your adjustments with your new manager. Don't assume the previous agreement will automatically transfer.
Request a formal review at least annually, or whenever something significant changes. Use the review to assess what's working, what needs tweaking, and whether new adjustments are needed. If your needs have increased, this is also a good time to discuss an Access to Work application if you haven't already made one.
Coaching and Therapy Reviews
If you're receiving ADHD coaching or therapy (whether privately or through Access to Work), regular progress reviews help ensure the support is still meeting your needs. Most coaching programmes include built-in review points, typically every 6-12 sessions. Use these to assess whether your goals have shifted, whether the coaching style is working, and whether you need to continue, pause, or transition to a different type of support.
Staying on Top of It All
The irony of ADHD support administration is that it requires exactly the executive function skills that ADHD impairs. Here's how to manage it.
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Create a single document listing all your active support: medication (type, dose, prescriber, review date), Access to Work (grant reference, expiry date, support details), workplace adjustments (what was agreed, when, with whom), and any therapy or coaching (provider, schedule, funded by). Update it whenever something changes.
- 2
Set calendar reminders for every review date, with a preliminary reminder 4-6 weeks before each one. Use whatever reminder system works for your ADHD: phone alarms, calendar apps, sticky notes, or all of the above.
- 3
Keep copies of all correspondence. Diagnostic reports, shared care letters, Access to Work grant letters, reasonable adjustment agreements, and prescription records should all be in one accessible place. A digital folder works; a physical folder in a fixed location also works. The key is having one place, not scattered across email, paper files, and vague memory.
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Ask your GP surgery about their recall system. Some surgeries have automated systems that flag when reviews are due; others rely on you booking. Knowing which system your surgery uses tells you how proactive you need to be.
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If you have an ADHD coach, make review management part of your coaching agenda. A coach can help you build the systems and accountability to stay on top of administrative tasks that ADHD makes disproportionately difficult.
Sources
NICE NG87: ADHD diagnosis and management · GOV.UK: Access to Work · ACAS: Adjustments for neurodiversity · ADHD UK · ADHDadultUK: Shared care
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