Diagnosed with ADHD in the UK, Now Living in Ireland

You had a diagnosis, a prescription that worked, and a doctor who knew your history. Then you moved to Ireland, and none of that automatically came with you. Your UK diagnosis does not disappear — but an Irish doctor cannot simply carry on your prescription from a letter alone. Here is what actually needs to happen next.

By Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist. Last reviewed: 13 October 2026.

Is a UK ADHD diagnosis valid in Ireland?

Your UK diagnosis is real, and it happened. But prescribing medication in Ireland is a separate decision, made by a doctor registered to practise here who takes clinical responsibility for you going forward. In practice, that means an Irish-registered doctor needs to review your case directly before continuing or restarting your medication — not because the UK diagnosis is doubted, but because prescribing is a live clinical relationship between you and a doctor, not something that transfers on paper alone.

Is there an ADHD shared-care arrangement between the UK and Ireland?

Ireland does not have a widespread, statutory shared-care framework for ADHD medication of the kind sometimes used between a specialist and a GP within a single health system. In practice, this means someone moving to Ireland with an existing UK ADHD diagnosis usually needs a fresh clinical review by a prescribing psychiatrist here, rather than a straightforward handover of an existing prescription between the two systems.

Will an Irish GP prescribe ADHD medication from a UK diagnosis?

Generally, not directly from a UK letter alone. ADHD medication in Ireland is typically started and monitored by a psychiatrist. A GP may continue a prescription once it is stable and established, but usually stays involved alongside a psychiatrist rather than taking over the whole picture independently. If you arrive in Ireland already diagnosed and medicated, the practical first step is a review with a psychiatrist here — not a request to your new GP to simply repeat what a UK doctor wrote.

Will your UK medication be available in Ireland?

Some ADHD medications prescribed in the UK are not routinely available in Ireland, or are marketed differently here. A treating psychiatrist would review what you have been taking and, if needed, discuss the nearest available equivalent with you. This is a routine part of a transfer-of-care review, not a sign that anything was wrong with your original diagnosis or treatment. (We do not name specific medicines on this page — your psychiatrist will discuss the options that fit your situation directly with you.)

Can you keep an NHS prescription going once you have moved?

Some NHS prescribing routes are only available to patients registered with an NHS GP or service in the UK, which does not cover someone now living in Ireland. In practice, this usually means relying on an NHS prescription is not a stable long-term option after you relocate, even if a UK pharmacy has, in the short term, been able to dispense against a prescription written before you left.

What does a transfer-of-care review with MindBridge involve?

MindBridge offers an ADHD transfer of care service for adults already diagnosed elsewhere who want an Irish psychiatrist to take over their prescribing and ADHD care: €450, by video, with Dr Shaeraine Raaj (Irish Medical Council 409852, Specialist Division).

Bring what documentation you have — your original diagnostic report, any letters from your UK psychiatrist or GP, and a record of your current medication and dose. Once your care is transferred, ongoing reviews are priced at €150 or €200 depending on length, and repeat prescriptions at €40 each via secure HealthMail.

Not every transfer-of-care review results in the same treatment continuing unchanged — the reviewing psychiatrist makes an independent clinical judgement based on what they find. This page cannot tell you what that judgement will be.

Need help now? In an emergency call 999 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency department. Samaritans: call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day. Text About It: free-text HELLO to 50808, 24/7. More ways to get urgent help, on hse.ie

About this article

This article is general information. It is not medical or legal advice and it cannot tell you whether you have a condition. It does not replace an assessment by a qualified clinician, and reading it does not make you a patient of MindBridge Medical.

If you are worried about your health, speak to your GP or another registered clinician. In an emergency call 999 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency department.

Written by Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist.

Medically reviewed by Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist (Irish Medical Council 409852, Specialist Division). Reviewed 13 October 2026.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026. How we review our content

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