Thousands spent on private ADHD medication

Becca said "enough was enough" when she decided to go private

People with ADHD are spending thousands of pounds on treatment and medication, with more than 400,000 private prescriptions issued last year, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

Adam Henry, from Dartford, estimates he spent about £5,400 in the past 12 months, following a private diagnosis 18 months ago.

With long NHS waiting lists, Henry Shelford, chief executive and co-founder at ADHD UK, said: "So many people look at those lists and say 'I can't wait this long, I'm in trouble and I need help now.'"

An NHS spokesperson said an "independent expert taskforce" had been launched to look at the root causes of the issue and help the health service manage the rising number of ADHD referrals.

Figures obtained by the BBC show the number of prescriptions for drugs rose from 28,439 in 2018-19 to 397,552 in 2023-24.

Last year a BBC investigation found more than 196,000 adults were on NHS waiting lists seeking a diagnosis, with many areas of the UK recording waiting times of at least eight years.

Mr Shelford said: "We talk to desperate people, desperate parents far too often and private is the only option when the NHS is failing in this way."

Mr Henry estimates he has spent about £5,400 on treatment and medication

Mr Henry said it had "caused a huge financial burden" on him and his family.

He added: "But I felt like I had no option as the treatment was having such a positive impact on my overall wellbeing, which outweighed the anxiety that the financial burden caused, and continues to cause, to this day."

Becca, from West Sussex, was diagnosed with ADHD by a perinatal team during her pregnancy.

She says this assessment was lost and she was put back on to a waiting list for medication.

Following a decline in her mental health, she said she decided "enough was enough" and went private.

"My medication costs me £300 per month, inclusive of prescription and consultation," she said.

"It's crippling me financially, but I can't be without my meds now."

'It's even tougher'

Many also face problems getting GPs to agree to shared care, allowing them to move to an NHS prescription rather than paying privately.

Mr Henry added: "People who are struggling, economically challenged or disadvantaged cannot do it.

"For people who are having it tough, it's even tougher."

An NHS spokesperson said: "Patients are waiting too long for an ADHD diagnosis which is why the NHS has launched an independent expert taskforce which will look at the root causes of the issue across a range of sectors, as well as help the health service manage the rising number of ADHD referrals."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government would "bring waiting lists under control, so people do not feel they have to turn to the private sector for treatment".

They added: "NHS England's ADHD taskforce is also bringing together expertise from the NHS, the education sector and justice system, to better understand the challenges affecting those with ADHD."