Background

Private ADHD assessment, titration and weight management in Standish, Wigan — and online across the UK

Mark Thornton-Jones is a Specialist ADHD Pharmacist and independent prescriber at Ready Health in Standish, Wigan. He carries out private ADHD assessments, manages ADHD titration and medication reviews, and runs weight management consultations.

Mark qualified as a pharmacist in 2010 and has practised as an independent prescriber since 2018, working in GP surgeries and primary care throughout that time. He completed specialist training in the diagnosis and management of ADHD in 2025 and joined Ready Health in January 2026.

Experience

Mark has worked as a clinical pharmacist in general practice since 2018, and has been a clinical pharmacist and team leader at Cumberland House Surgery in Southport since 2019. There he is responsible for repeat prescribing, structured medication reviews, patient queries and safety audits, and writes prescribing protocols covering opiate and benzodiazepine reduction, shared care prescribing and high-risk patients. His medication review work spans mental health, hypertension, heart failure, HRT and pain.

Before moving into primary care, Mark spent seven years in community pharmacy with Lloyds Pharmacy and The Hub Pharmacy across Blackpool and Chorley. This included several years as a pharmacy manager accountable for branch performance and teams of up to fifteen people, and a period as a regional Safer Care Champion coaching branches on safe practice and standards of patient care.

He currently line-manages a pharmacy technician and a prescription clerk, and also undertakes remote clinical pharmacist work for Primary Care Services.

Specialisation

Mark's areas of expertise include:

Private ADHD assessment and diagnosis
ADHD titration and medication management
ADHD medication reviews and repeat prescribing
Shared care agreements with NHS GP practices
Weight management, including prescribed weight loss medication
Structured medication reviews and polypharmacy
Deprescribing, including opiate and benzodiazepine reduction
Long-term condition management, including hypertension, heart failure, mental health, HRT and pain

ADHD Assessment and Titration

Mark is one of the clinicians who carries out ADHD assessments at Ready Health's CQC-registered clinic in Standish, Wigan, and online across the UK. Assessments follow NICE guidance and use recognised structured tools, including DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and the DIVA-5 diagnostic interview.

Because Mark is an independent prescriber, he can also prescribe and adjust ADHD medication directly rather than referring to a separate prescriber. This covers titration — the process of starting a medication at a low dose and adjusting it in stages, with regular review, until the dose that works best for the individual is found — and ongoing medication reviews once treatment is stable.

Mark also supports patients moving on to a shared care agreement with their NHS GP practice, so that prescribing can transfer back to the NHS where the practice is willing to accept it.

Weight Management

Alongside his ADHD work, Mark holds a weight management accreditation and runs weight management consultations at Ready Health, including the assessment, prescribing and monitoring of weight loss medication.

Educational Background

Mark graduated with an MPharm in Pharmacy from Liverpool John Moores University in 2010. He completed the Non-Medical Prescribing course at the University of Bolton in 2018, achieving a Distinction, which qualified him as an independent pharmacist prescriber. He went on to complete the CPPE Pharmacists in General Practice Pathway between 2019 and 2021, and privately funded and completed training in the diagnosis and management of ADHD in 2025.

Professional Accreditations

Independent prescriber (Non-Medical Prescribing, Distinction)
Diagnosis and management of ADHD
Weight management
Safeguarding Level 3
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism
Clinical skills, via the CPPE General Practice Pathway
Enhanced DBS certification, renewed annually
Proficient in the EMIS and Semble clinical systems

Professional Affiliations

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) – registered pharmacist and independent prescriber, registration number 2076283

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mark Thornton-Jones diagnose ADHD?

Yes. Mark carries out private ADHD assessments at Ready Health and holds a specialist qualification in the diagnosis and management of ADHD. Assessments follow NICE guidance and use DSM-5 criteria alongside the DIVA-5 structured diagnostic interview.

Can a pharmacist diagnose ADHD?

Yes. NICE guidance states that an ADHD diagnosis should be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD. That includes clinical pharmacists and nurses who hold a recognised ADHD specialist qualification, which is how Ready Health's assessment service is staffed.

Can Mark prescribe ADHD medication?

Yes. Mark has been an independent prescriber since 2018, so he can prescribe ADHD medication and adjust the dose himself without referring to another prescriber.

What is ADHD titration?

Titration is the process of finding the right ADHD medication and dose for an individual. Treatment starts at a low dose, which is then adjusted in stages with regular review of benefit and side effects until the most effective dose is reached. Ready Health considers a patient stable once they have been on the same medication and dose for three consecutive months.

Will my NHS GP take over my ADHD prescription?

Possibly, through a shared care agreement. Shared care is at the sole discretion of each NHS GP practice, and not all practices accept agreements from private providers. It is worth asking your practice whether it will accept shared care from a private CQC-registered provider before booking.

Where does Mark see patients?

Mark sees patients at Ready Health, 22 High Street, Standish, Wigan WN6 0HL, which is within easy reach of Wigan, Chorley, Leyland, Preston, Bolton, Warrington and Greater Manchester. ADHD assessments and reviews are also available online anywhere in the UK.

Beyond the Consulting Room

Mark is a married father of two and spends much of his time outside work with his family, usually travelling. He follows boxing and horse racing, trains regularly at the gym, reads fiction and sporting autobiographies, and enjoys cooking and baking.