Health / Demand for ADHD assessments doubles in two years
AS MANY as two new patients are being referred to NHS Shetland with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) every week.
NHS Shetland has said demand for ADHD assessments has doubled in the last two years, with more and more children being referred since the end of the Covid pandemic.
Half of all the patients being seen at the child health clinic in Shetland are either being diagnosed or being treated for ADHD.
Adult patients are currently waiting 14 months on average to be assessed, with more than 220 adults and 54 children waiting for a potential diagnosis in Shetland.
One person was only assessed over two years after being referred – though NHS Shetland said this was due to the patient not attending appointments they had been offered.
However, the health board said demand for ADHD assessments “continues to be high”.
A freedom of information request from Shetland News found there were 54 children between the age of three and 17 on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment. There are also 223 adults waiting to be seen.
The NHS describes ADHD is a group of behavioural symptoms that can include difficulty concentrating and paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Some people with ADHD have problems with inattentiveness, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness.
In a joint statement, community mental health head Rhona McArthur and paediatrician Alex Armitage stressed there is “no national target” for how long patients should have to wait for an ADHD assessment.
“Across Scotland, waiting times for ADHD assessments within NHS services are generally high, but our data shows that our waiting times are notably lower than average,” they said.
“Adult ADHD assessment and ongoing monitoring are relatively new within mental health services, as well as complex in nature, which has required delivery within the existing mental health service which has an already broad and complex caseload.”
They said that the number of young people being referred has “continued to increase” since the end of the pandemic.
“We now see an average of two new patients with suspected ADHD per week,” they said.
“This is more than double the rate compared to 2022.”
However, they said this reflected a “broader trend across the UK”.
“There is good evidence suggesting that the number of people who have ADHD signs and symptoms has remained stable for many decades.
“It is a case of increasing recognition of ADHD rather than an increase in the number of people who have it.”
A “significant effort” has been made to develop an “island specific pathway” for dealing with ADHD assessments, the pair said.
“Through the pathway work we have been able to streamline the process for patients and use a shared care approach with primary care to support patients to been seen for any future follow ups closer to home.”
Armitage and McArthur said it took “significant time and resources” to make an ADHD assessment in a young person, which could take between three to six months.
“People with ADHD often find that they are creative, full of ideas and talented at practical activities, but find activities that require sustained concentration difficult, as ADHD people tend to be highly distractible.
“This means that despite often being bright, young people with ADHD can struggle to engage in school education much more than their peers.
“Difficulties at school often lead to a lack of confidence and self-esteem, which in turn can lead to mental health difficulties and challenging behaviour.
“Recognising ADHD and providing the necessary treatment and support in childhood and adolescence can help young people to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives and prevent mental illness and other problems in later life.”
More information on ADHD can be found on the NHS website.
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