Clearing county's ADHD backlog could take 89 years

Alice Gardener said by the time people get to the point of assessment they could have been in crisis mode for years already

Clearing the backlog of ADHD assessments in Gloucestershire could take 89 years, a BBC investigation has found.

Figures show there are more than 1,600 people on the waiting list, with just 18 full assessments being carried out in 2023.

Stonehouse resident Alice Gardener, who waited three years for an assessment, said: "It shouldn't be taking this long. Undiagnosed ADHD can have a substantial effect on someone's life."

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust said it was recruiting new staff to reduce the backlog.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour, making it harder to concentrate and manage time.

If the trust continues with its current rate of 17 assessments annually, it would take 89 years to deal with all the outstanding referrals.

Ms Gardner, who says she was expelled from school because of her ADHD, told the BBC she switched to the Right To Choose pathway, which is through the NHS and involved a private clinic.

'People in crisis mode'

Ms Gardener said her son, who also has ADHD, has seen his quality of life "substantially improve" since his diagnosis and medication.

She said: "There are other adults in my life that I know have undiagnosed ADHD and if they were given the opportunity to try the medication it would improve their quality of life as well.

"By the time people get to the point of assessment they could have been in crisis mode for years already."

Ms Gardener, who is also the director of parent and carer alliance in Gloucestershire, said teachers found her "too hyper" at school and said they "couldn't cope" with her.

"I was very, very impulsive at school. Struggled to fit in and I didn't know what was wrong with me. It was really tough when I was younger," she added.

Some people are turning to private clinics for assessments

The long wait for an NHS assessment means some families are turning to private clinics for help, which comes at a financial cost.

Clinical nurse specialist in ADHD Vicki George, who runs a private clinic in Maisemore called The ADHD Nurse, said: "Quite often people have hit crisis point and they're looking for a private assessment which can come with complications in itself longer term.

"If the NHS were a bit more open working alongside private clinics and using us as a resource, that would free up spaces for people who can't afford private care."

What the NHS says

A spokesperson for the NHS trust said: "The trust acknowledges that, in common with the rest of the country, a large increase in referrals for adult ADHD assessment in Gloucestershire over recent years has meant that the waiting list has grown substantially.

“The figures reported for 2023 reflect the number of full assessments completed, but do not factor in the number of triage assessments carried out. Triage is carried out for everyone on a waiting list for full assessment.

“They also don’t reflect the processes involved in completing an ADHD assessment, which include prescribing and titration (the process of introducing medication safely).

"This will take time to have an effect but will be accompanied by broader work being carried out by an NHS England ADHD Task Force nationally."