ADHD services shutting door to new NHS patients as demand soars, BBC finds

🛑 Crisis in Adult ADHD Services: Waiting Lists Closed Amid Soaring Demand

A recent BBC inquiry reveals that specialist Adult ADHD services across England are struggling severely with demand, leading many to restrict or cease accepting new patients. This crisis is exposing patients to "enormous risks," according to health experts.

Key Findings from the BBC Inquiry

Based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to 59 service providers, the BBC uncovered significant access restrictions:

• 15 local areas have completely closed their waiting lists to new referrals.

   

• 31 areas have imposed tighter restrictions on who they will accept.

   

This means that a majority of services providing adult ADHD care in England are now rationing access.

The Scale of the Problem

The current system is failing to meet the needs of those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition estimated to affect 3-4% of adults (and 5% of children).

• Waiting Times: NHS data shows that the average wait for an adult diagnosis currently exceeds eight years.

• Historic Neglect: Prof. Anita Thapar, chair of NHS England's ADHD taskforce, described the findings as "disturbing" and blamed the situation on the "historic neglect" of ADHD by the NHS.

• Patient Impact: Patients like Louise Nichols (45, Derbyshire), who was forced off a waiting list because her neighbouring trust (Sheffield) stopped accepting out-of-boundary patients, find daily life difficult and feel frustrated that a national health service isn't available to the whole country.

The Risks of Undertreatment

Experts agree that while diagnosis and treatment (medication and psychotherapy) can be life-changing, the lack of support poses significant dangers:

• Comorbidity: Increased risks of mental health issues and opioid use.

• Socio-economic Impact: Higher rates of unemployment and greater likelihood of interaction with the criminal justice system.

• Underdiagnosis: The taskforce's study notes that the condition is being underdiagnosed and undertreated.

   

Recommendations and Innovation

Prof. Thapar's study, which advocates for a complete overhaul of the support system, calls for:

1. More Joint-Working: Increased collaboration across health, education, and the criminal justice system.

    

2. Staff Training: Better training for community NHS workers, such as GPs and pharmacists, to take on some responsibilities currently held by specialist services.

In the face of the crisis, the BBC inquiry did find isolated instances of innovation:

• Surrey is piloting a scheme to train private GPs to perform assessments and treatment, potentially offering a quicker route for diagnosis.

Patients who have navigated the system report transformative changes. Sam Stone (33) near Gloucester, who eventually got treatment despite difficulties with his GP accepting his private diagnosis, said the medication was "massive" and felt like a cloud had been lifted after years of struggling with depression.

The government is facing pressure to implement system-wide change to address the "unacceptably long waiting lists" and ensure equitable access to care.

Would you like to know more about the recommendations for the overhaul of the ADHD services, or are you interested in the options available to people like Louise who have been removed from a waiting list?