UK adult ADHD services in crisis

The UK's services for adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are in crisis, with demand outstripping capacity and waiting times reaching unprecedented lengths. Recognition of and treatments for ADHD have expanded over the past two decades, increasing clinical demand. This issue h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BJPsych Bulletin 2024-02, Vol.48 (1), p.1-5
Main Authors: Smith, Michael C. F., Mukherjee, Raja A. S., Müller-Sedgwick, Ulrich, Hank, Dietmar, Carpenter, Peter, Adamou, Marios
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ADHD
Artificial intelligence
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Comorbidity
COVID-19
Criminal justice system
diagnosis
Funding
General Adult
Health care
Health services
Pandemics
Patients
Prioritizing
quality of care
Resource allocation
Segmentation
service delivery
Social services
Specialized services
Waiting times
Workforce
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Summary:The UK's services for adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are in crisis, with demand outstripping capacity and waiting times reaching unprecedented lengths. Recognition of and treatments for ADHD have expanded over the past two decades, increasing clinical demand. This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite an increase in specialist services, resource allocation has not kept pace, leading to extended waiting times. Underfunding has encouraged growth in independent providers, leading to fragmentation of service provision. Treatment delays carry a human and financial cost, imposing a burden on health, social care and the criminal justice system. A rethink of service procurement and delivery is needed, with multiple solutions on the table, including increasing funding, improving system efficiency, altering the service provision model and clinical prioritisation. However, the success of these solutions hinges on fiscal capacity and workforce issues.
ISSN:2056-4694
2056-4708
2053-4868
DOI:10.1192/bjb.2023.88