BBCNearly 400,000 private prescriptions for ADHD medication were issued last year as patients sought to bypass lengthy NHS waiting lists, with people spending millions of pounds on treatment.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.One family from West Yorkshire said they had chosen to re-mortgage their home to meet the costs, with research suggesting backlogs for ADHD assessments could take up to eight years to clear in some parts of the UK.The Department of Health and Social Care said it was working to “bring waiting lists under control”, adding that the NHS had recently launched an “ADHD taskforce” to help tackle the delays.ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour – making it harder to concentrate and manage time.Acting impulsively and taking risks can also be an issue and it is also associated with serious mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety.According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, between 3-4% of adults in the UK have ADHD, while the global prevalence of the condition among children is estimated to be about 5%.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.Among those to have taken action to side-step the lengthy wait are Jannine and Chris from Halifax.The couple were told it could take up to two years before their children, Oliver, 13, and Sophie, eight, would be seen by the NHS in West Yorkshire.”Oliver’s ADHD was debilitating,” said Jannine.”For both children, ADHD manifested itself through anxiety, being unable to focus on their education, and emotional dysregulation.”Oliver couldn’t face going to school because of the anxiety. Sophie, especially on a Monday, would come home just completely burnt out. We were just banging our heads against the wall with the NHS.”After making the decision to go private, the couple paid more than £8,000 for diagnoses for both children and pay a further £500 a month for their medication.’Financial strain’The couple said to fund the treatment they had switched to an interest-only mortgage.”It felt like we had no option,” said Chris.”Finding the money each month is just more stress when you’re already dealing with the challenges of ADHD.””There’s a shelf life on how long we can afford to do this because it’s definitely a financial strain,” ad …
