AQW 24409/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 13/03/2025
Answered On Date: 20/03/2025
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any support available to patients who have had ADHD medication withdrawn by their GP following the cancellation of their shared care arrangements.

Answer:

Regarding provision of service for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), demand for assessment and diagnosis has grown across Trusts. All Trusts are committed to work closely and collaboratively with commissioners to develop innovative, cost effective, co-produced, quality, and evidenced based services that can meet the needs of adults with ADHD within Trust areas. This work would include the development of clinical pathways.

The Department is commissioning a research exercise into the current and projected demand with a view to bringing forward recommendations to inform a commissioned ADHD service, subject to future budget availability. The exercise will seek to establish the prevalence of ADHD for both children and adults in Northern Ireland, examine best practice from other jurisdictions and identify challenges and barriers in relation to ADHD diagnosis and treatment.

Importantly, the research exercise will be expected to make recommendations on what any future commissioned service might look like in terms of, for example, costs, staffing profiles and recommended care pathways.

A research lead has now been identified and work on the research has commenced, with an anticipated completion date of end June 2025.

Any future commissioned service will be subject to both budget availability and evidenced demand, but the research, once completed, will help provide a firm evidence base to inform a future model.