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Original poster

Are ADHD waiting lists ever going to improve?

116 replies

MaddenA · 28/03/2024 23:02

I've been told I could be waiting 7 years. Nearly bought medication a few months ago but panicked when I read about possible side effects so bottled it. Moment of madness. I'm desperate. How can it take 7 years for an assessment? I wish I could afford private.

OP posts:
Willyoujustbequiet · 29/03/2024 01:07

I don't know if kids are different but my youngest dc was referred and diagnosed within 4 months. Must be a postcode lottery.

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 29/03/2024 00:12

My GP said the wait here is about a year. That was back in October but I've no idea what's happening just glad to have been given a possible explanation for being quirky.

freddy05 · 29/03/2024 00:09

Have you tried the NHS right to choose pathway? I waited 2 years in the NHS waiting list before I found out about the right to choose pathway once I did and requested a referral to one of the specialist clinics contracted through that it took less that 3 months for my assessment and diagnosis and two months later I’m stable on medication and referred back to my GP for ongoing prescriptions.

Kitkat1523 · 28/03/2024 23:48

Babyroobs · 28/03/2024 23:13

I wonder how many people who actually get an assessment are found to actually have it?

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If you go private, I would imagine everyone who goes would get a diagnosis

SkyBloo · 28/03/2024 23:33

The bigger question is why do so many people have ADHD?

Speaking personally, smart phone use/addiction has absolutely destroyed my attention span and memory.

I can't concentrate on anything. I wish they had never been invented. I wonder if that impact is true of more people & whether its a contributory factor in rising levels of adhd.

PooSniffer · 28/03/2024 23:29

8 years waiting time for a dentist appointment I was told today. I actually laughed when receptionist told me as I assumed she was joking … she wasn’t.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 28/03/2024 23:22

In my experience- if you go to a private ADHD clinic then they will only look at it through a lens of ADHD.. whereas in reality there are so many other overlaps with ADHD. The one I took my daughter to did a 45 min zoom call and diagnosed her there and then. Not nearly in depth enough and cost almost 2k.
I don't know if the many private clinics over diagnose but I suspect so - but equally I understand why people are driven to use these places (as I was) as the NHS lists are so long. I don't know what the answer is.

Original poster
MaddenA · 28/03/2024 23:22

HummingbirdChandelier · 28/03/2024 23:12

Not until everyone and their granny stops clogging up the system with cod self diagnosis. I guess the next trend will come along soon

it’s a terrible shame for the people who actually have it and require medication

I have heard so many people saying they think they have it and listing off a load of random reasons that don't sound like adhd at all. It's frustrating. I'm debilitated. My working memory is so poor that I don't function sometimes. I can't remember anything. I don't know where anything is. My mind is insane with thoughts and permanent internal monologue but my body is overwhelmed and frozen. I don't get anything done despite trying because I can't cope with one thing at a time. I feel like a complete failure at the end of every day.

OP posts:
HummingbirdChandelier · 28/03/2024 23:15

Babyroobs · 28/03/2024 23:13

I wonder how many people who actually get an assessment are found to actually have it?

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Quite.

My research shows that sometimes it’s just easier and quicker for drugs to be prescribed than an actual assessment carried out

Babyroobs · 28/03/2024 23:13

HummingbirdChandelier · 28/03/2024 23:12

Not until everyone and their granny stops clogging up the system with cod self diagnosis. I guess the next trend will come along soon

it’s a terrible shame for the people who actually have it and require medication

I wonder how many people who actually get an assessment are found to actually have it?

HummingbirdChandelier · 28/03/2024 23:12

Not until everyone and their granny stops clogging up the system with cod self diagnosis. I guess the next trend will come along soon

it’s a terrible shame for the people who actually have it and require medication

Barrenfieldoffucks · 28/03/2024 23:10

Yeah, I'm 3 years in so far 😂

Babyroobs · 28/03/2024 23:10

MaddenA · 28/03/2024 23:09

The stupid thing is I've had an (unofficial) assessment by a friend who is trained but doesn't work in that field anymore. The results were stark. I scored highly. Probably a daft thing to do. He said he knew I had it when he first met me.

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Can you pay for a private assessment?

Original poster
MaddenA · 28/03/2024 23:09

RemarkablyBrightCreature · 28/03/2024 23:05

Self diagnosis is off the scale so no, I see no sign of improvement coming.

The stupid thing is I've had an (unofficial) assessment by a friend who is trained but doesn't work in that field anymore. The results were stark. I scored highly. Probably a daft thing to do. He said he knew I had it when he first met me.

OP posts:
RemarkablyBrightCreature · 28/03/2024 23:05

Self diagnosis is off the scale so no, I see no sign of improvement coming.

teacheroffsick · 28/03/2024 23:03

In Surrey, schools are being told that they cannot make any new ADHD applications for assessment at the moment because the backlog is so huge.