Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Northern Ireland are calling for urgent government action to address a significant shortage of publicly funded treatment services. Unlike other parts of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland does not maintain a formally commissioned, publicly funded adult ADHD pathway, leaving patients to navigate treatment access through limited resources managed by local health trusts.
Several individuals have come forward describing the financial and practical burdens of the current system. One woman and her husband reported spending approximately £4,000 annually on private psychiatric reviews, prescriptions, and medication. She characterized the situation as “wildly unfair and inhumane,” noting that while children can receive diagnoses, adults aged 18 and older lack a clear diagnostic route within the public system. A 28-year-old resident stated he was repeatedly told that services were closed to new patients and ultimately traveled to England for a private diagnosis funded through family insurance.
General practitioners working within the system have expressed frustration with the constraints they face. One GP with 35 years of experience noted that while he can make referrals to adult ADHD services, no staffed services exist to receive them. Additional complications arise around shared-care arrangements, where some GPs express reluctance to prescribe medications for patients diagnosed privately due to concerns about provider qualifications and lack of communication from private practitioners.
The Department of Health acknowledged that demand for services continues to exceed available capacity, resulting in extended waiting times that have prompted individuals to seek private diagnoses. A spokesperson stated that health trusts manage referrals within existing resources and that significant work has been undertaken to better understand service needs. However, the department indicated that any future commissioning decisions must be considered within the context of overall affordability amid broader funding constraints affecting health and social care.
Political representatives have called for action, with one Alliance MLA stating that adults with ADHD have been “completely forgotten about” and arguing that commissioning a dedicated service would be transformative for the region and cost-effective long-term.
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