NHS Grampian 'struggling' to cope with demand of adult ADHD assessment referrals

NHS Grampian says it is 'struggling' to cope with the demand of adult ADHD assessment referrals.

We obtained figures from the health board which revealed 1,939 adults remain on the waiting list to be assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the NHS Grampian region.

As of the end of 2023/24, Aberdeen City had 1,036 people waiting to be assessed, with 792 in Aberdeenshire.

Moray received 111 referrals during that time, all of whom remain on the waiting list.

The health board says it is "struggling" to keep up with demand of referrals due to limited capacity.

A spokesperson for the health board said: "Across Grampian, we began operating waiting lists for adults seeking an ADHD assessment in 2021.

"Due to limited capacity we have struggled to keep up with the demand, hence the current numbers.

"We offer support and signposting to everyone waiting and encourage them to contact their GP if their condition worsens."

ADHD diagnosis was "life-changing"

Dawn Farmer, 40, was on the NHS Grampian waiting list for a year before deciding to undergo a private assessment in September 2022 due to feeling like she was at 'crisis' point.

She was initially told by her university that she had ADHD and despite having a report to present to her GP, the process was not made any quicker.

She said: "I had that validation and kind of knowing that, but not being able to do anything about it and get the proper support in place was really difficult just being on this waiting list.

"Even with that report, they weren't able to move me up the waiting list or see me any sooner which was frustrating."

Dawn opened up about feeling like she was "broken" as she found tasks difficult which looked easier for others.

Speaking about her diagnosis, she described it as a weight being lifted: "The diagnosis is validating, but it is just the beginning of the understanding.

"There is a lot of unravelling that you have to do.

"I got my diagnosis - I'm now 40 - 38-years-old is when I started this process and I've got 38-years of unravelling and understanding to do."

Laura Mears-Reynolds hosts a podcast, ADHD-AF, based in Footdee and now holds events across the UK.

Laura spent three years on a waiting list before seeking a private assessment when her husband secured a new job in Aberdeen and gained access to private healthcare.

Before being diagnosed in her late thirties, she suffered from mental health issues and an eating disorder.

She said receiving a diagnosis was not just life-changing but life-saving: "Truthfully, I did not want to be alive anymore. I really, really didn’t.

"And knowing that I had the potential of help in sight – which was an assessment with a psychiatrist in January - was what kept me hanging on.

"Now, 2 years on my life is completely different and it feels so very far away that I ever felt like that."

Now, through her podcast Laura has created a community supporting others going through an ADHD diagnosis later in life.

Why is the waiting list under pressure?

Billy Alexander, Chief Executive at A-ND, an autism and neurodiversity charity in Aberdeen, said he has experienced people waiting up to five or seven years before being offered an assessment.

Speaking to Northsound, he said: "It is a really sad state of affairs. I think it causes a lot of unneeded anxiety for those who are waiting for an assessment because while they are waiting for an assessment, they still have challenges that impact them every single day and that doesn’t go away whether you have a diagnosis or not."

Mr Alexander highlighted there could be a number of contributing factors for an increase in referrals, including increased awareness and improved understanding of how ADHD presents in males and females.

He continued to call for more resources for organisations like A-ND to implement further support in schools to target early intervention and prevention.

Mr Alexander noted that the exposure and awareness around neurodiversity is a good thing: "I can imagine our partners in the NHS right now - with the level of media and reporting around the waiting list nationally – they must be feeling that.

"It’s not because they’re bad people. It’s because the decision makers and the powers that be government and how we are dispersing our resources, our funding, how we are doing that, isn’t being changed radically.

"There is systemic change that is required because this is a crisis. This is a genuine crisis."

Diagnosis "inconsistent" across Scotland

The Scottish Government said it acknowledges current access to neurodevelopmental diagnosis is inconsistent across the country and is working to improve.

A spokesperson said: “We are committed to protecting, respecting and championing the rights of people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people and are currently consulting on proposals for a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill.

“We want everyone to access the support they need, including diagnosis for neurodivergence as soon as feasible.

“We do acknowledge that current access to adult neurodevelopmental diagnosis is inconsistent across Scotland, and while it is the responsibility of local Health and Social Care Partnerships to put in place services to meet local needs, including the needs of neurodivergent adults, the Scottish Government is engaged in work to improve access to adult neurodevelopmental diagnosis in Scotland.”

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill aimed at delivering better rights for these groups.