ADHD service provision by paediatricians: UK survey

• Published in: Clinical governance 2009-08, Vol.14 (3), p.236-241
• Main Authors: Banerjee, Somnath, Kewley, Geoff
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Audits; Children; Children & youth; Children age groups; Clinics; Mental health care; Mental health services; Paediatricians; Paediatrics; Pediatrics; Service provision; Studies; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1477-7274; 2059-4631; 1758-6038; 2059-464X
• DOI: 10.1108/14777270910976175

Purpose - Various guidelines are available to help effectively manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. This paper aims to determine the current service provision for children with ADHD in the UK.Design methodology approach - A cross-sectional survey of the UK paediatricians was conducted online.Findings - A total of 93 completed survey forms were received. Of the clinicians, 71 per cent assessed one to five new cases every month; 51.6 per cent clinicians followed up six to 20 children, whereas 29 per cent followed up 31 to 50 cases per month. A total of 77.4 per cent worked jointly with CAMHS. There was no support by a nurse to 83.9 per cent and a junior doctor to 71 per cent clinicians. Share care was in place in 74.2 per cent; 19.3 per cent did not have a local guideline. Audit of the ADHD clinic was done by 71 per cent responders.Originality value - The paper reveals that service for children with ADHD offered by paediatricians showed wide variation. There is a need for more provision of resources to enable comprehensive assessment and multimodal treatment for ADHD.