The wait for ADHD tests and diagnoses has risen by years in Greater Manchester, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.
Waiting lists for ADHD tests and diagnoses are rising across the country. Leaders of ADHD UK, a major charity campaigning about the condition, say there are 2.6 million people with ADHD in the UK, waiting lists for adults range from 12 weeks to 10.5 years and those for children from five weeks to five years.
The dad, who wishes to remain anonymous, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder around four years ago, having ‘never even considered having this condition before’.“That started my not very good journey with this part of the NHS," he told the M.E.N. A few months into his wait, the family moved into the Trafford Extended Service catchment area and he called TES to ask where he was in the queue.
“GPs in the NHS don’t have to accept the diagnosis from a private doctor, so even if I did manage to get a diagnosis I might not be able to access the treatment through the NHS. In 2000, childhood ADHD was first recognised by NICE, and later in 2008, it was recognised as a condition in adults. It’s these new services that have been put under increased pressure as they haven’t grown to the demand of patients being referred, said the ITV and ADHD UK national investigation.
“We understand how vital timely diagnosis and treatment is, and we continue to communicate with NHS Greater Manchester, who commission the ADHD services across the region, to highlight this urgent issue and seek a way forward to reduce waiting times and improve the experience of those awaiting assessment.