Pause in ADHD referrals 'putting lives at risk'

A man who was diagnosed with ADHD in his thirties says making it harder for adults to be referred for the condition on the NHS could put lives at risk.

In May, the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust temporarily stopped accepting new referrals for adults over 25 for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in an effort to cut waiting lists for children.

Andy Morrison, from Coventry, said he nearly developed a substance abuse problem before he was diagnosed and feared others could go down a similar route while waiting.

The NHS trust said it was committed to bringing back adult referrals "as soon as possible".

Mr Morrison said his diagnosis had been a "game changer" for him.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with concentration, energy levels, impulsiveness, or by a person's ability to manage their time.

Figures published earlier this year by NHS England estimated there were nearly 2.5 million people in England with ADHD, with more than 550,000 currently waiting for an assessment.

Mr Morrison said he thought being forgetful, impulsive and struggling to concentrate were just some of his personality traits until his partner suggested he might have ADHD.

''I used to bury anxiety and to try to fit in," the 35-year old said.

Because of that, he said he became "pretty close" to developing an abuse problem but his recent diagnosis changed that.

''It's the same as someone who's visually impaired putting on glasses. That's the best way to describe it'' Mr Morrison said.

While he recognised action needed to be taken to get the waiting list for children's referrals down, he said adults should not feel ignored.

''It's a lot more common for ADHD'ers to use substances to counteract burnout and it's a lot less common once they are on medication," he said.

"So the fact that won't be available now will make them more vulnerable''.

ADHD UK, a charity that helps people with the condition, said one in four women with it and one in 10 men with ADHD would at some point try to take their own lives.

''We absolutely think this decision [to suspend referrals] represents a risk to life," a spokesperson for the charity said.

Mr Morrison agreed: ''I've had a few friends trying to take their own lives diagnosed or otherwise, so the fact the over-25s are being completely disregarded is just horrible''.

He said he felt the decision could put lives at risk claiming ''it's not deliberate, but it is a consequence of the action''.

More than 7,500 children and young people were currently waiting for an ADHD assessment in the region, the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, of which the partnership NHS trust is a member, said.

A spokesperson added that was ''unacceptable'' and showed the need for a different approach with more than 10-year waiting times for some children.

Under the temporary policy, only new referrals for assessments for people under 25 would be commissioned but, they added, this would not affect anybody who had already been referred and those on the current waiting list would remain.

Autism assessments are also not affected.

"This policy will remain in place until we have implemented a new, comprehensive and sustainable all-age pathway for ADHD'' chief medical officer Dr Imogen Staveley said.

''We are committed to introducing this new pathway as soon as possible."

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.