How to improve ADHD support for people
Background
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with concentration, energy levels, impulsiveness, or a person's ability to manage their time.
Recently, there has been a massive rise in demand for assessment, diagnosis and support for ADHD. Local Healthwatch raised concerns with us about the state of ADHD services.
We commissioned YouGov to run two rounds of polling about adults' experiences of ADHD. We also ran our own survey, asking people with both diagnosed and possible ADHD to share their experiences with us.
Our findings show what the public has shared about the difficulties they have faced accessing support for ADHD.
Key findings
- The impact ADHD has on people's lives can be profound, affecting work, mental wellbeing and household management.
- An ADHD diagnosis can be life-changing – giving people a better understanding of themselves and improving their ability to manage their health and wellbeing.
- People are experiencing long waits, pushing them to pay for a private assessment. This is creating a two-tier system based on whether people can afford to pay for care.
- There are hidden waits for ADHD referrals. Along with the long wait for an assessment, people told us of referral delays and reluctance to ask for support due to the long waiting times.
- People want support while they wait for an ADHD assessment, but most aren't getting any.
- People with ADHD or suspected ADHD can be reluctant to speak to their employers about support.
Recommendations
There is a clear need for quicker access to NHS support for ADHD, as well as help from other sectors, including employment. However, NHS teams face challenges as they try to meet the rising demand for ADHD.
To improve access, provide more consistent support to people waiting, and build capacity for specialist hospital teams to deliver more complex care, we have called on NHS decision-makers to:
- Move ADHD assessments to the community. This includes providing NHS teams with the training and resources they need to deliver care closer to people's homes. This shift will require collaboration between NHS, social care, education, employment and criminal justice stakeholders.
- Review National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ADHD guidance to reflect this shift to more care delivered by general psychiatry and GP teams, and explore future prescribing of first-line medication from non-hospital settings.
- Provide better support to people waiting for ADHD assessments, including keeping people updated with clear and accessible communication from the NHS.
- Collect and publish official data on ADHD assessment waiting times, including demographic data, to understand and address health inequalities.
- Improve employers' support for those with ADHD through raising awareness, proactive offers of reasonable adjustments, and expanding support provided through the Access to Work scheme.
Downloads
If you require this report in a different format, please contact us by emailing enquires@healthwatch.co.uk or calling us on 03000 683 000.
