Panorama Private ADHD clinics exposed

[Youdoyoubabe]

Nothing surprising there really but good to highlight it on national television. Everyone has some characteristics of ADHD.

Came on here to see if anyone else was watching. Not surprising, but interesting stuff.

I haven't watched it yet. Family member has used one of the clinics mentioned and has been happy with it.
I don't get the "We've all got symptoms" comment - no one pays the money to go themselves or take their dc for a diagnosis without having a lot of concerns already.
The real scandal is the length of the NHS waiting list.

I totally agree. It's not a random sample . Like you say, most people seeking an assessment will have had significant problems already.

Oh they do though because the medication is really great at assisting with concentration in anyone.

The medication has side effects and can contribute to heart problems. It's not the quick fix many people seem to assume that it is and anyone who has been through the titration for ADHD meds knows that.

It doesn't stop people who have no experience of it making glib comments and assumptions though.

Latest fad and total rip off of vulnerable people. I'm glad it's being exposed even if tons will refuse to believe it.

NHS waiting lists are years long, there is huge stigma about neurodiversity still and minimising of people’s symptoms and the impact on their lives. This programme is really not going to help if it doesn’t show a balanced view of the shitshow of adult ADHD support in the NHS.

And no, ADHD meds don’t increase concentration for everyone. They can be either ineffective or downright harmful if given to people without ADHD.

I didn't watch it but what do the private clinics gain from diagnosing people?

You've already paid their fee and they don't get any money from prescriptions.

They supply the drugs, most of the time because the NHS won’t accept private diagnoses.

The most ablest piece of TV crap I’ve seen in a long time.

Obviously the Gov don’t want these embarrassing stats for waiting lists on their records with a GE coming up so they gaslight the poor ND people who have struggled through their whole lives and now finally have a reason for their difficulties and at times helpful medication to treat it.

I will never watch Panorama again. Idiots!

Thank you.

The “we all have some symptoms of ADHD” comments are beyond ignorant. We all feel sad sometimes, that’s not the same as having clinical depression. We all have upset stomachs sometimes, that’s not the same as someone battling chronic stomach issues.

People with ADHD have all of the symptoms, all of the time. From the moment they wake up, until the moment they fall asleep. It’s exhausting and debilitating.

This documentary is only going to solidify ableist and discriminatory beliefs. It’s going to cause so much damage.

Yes. Everyone has some characteristics of ADHD...but that isn't how the diagnosis works or what it means.

Clearly you have to be significantly impacted in your every day life. Who would randomly decide they don't have anything better to do with £2k? They'd get plenty of street drugs for that if that's all they wanted.

Everyone has blood sugar spikes but it doesn't mean people say 'everyone has characteristics of diabetes' to diabetics.

Everyone forgets things but it doesn't mean that people say 'everyone has characteristics of dementia'.

Every woman has period pains but you wouldn't say you have 'characteristics of endometriosis'.

What's the difference?

This 'everyone's got a bit of ADHD' 'we're all somewhere on the spectrum' crap really concerns me, because it minimises the very real affect on the lives of those who actually have it.

@GCWorkNightmare Most of the time the NHS will allow you to have shared care.

I had a private diagnosis and get my prescription on the NHS.

Even when I didn't get my prescription from the NHS (the first two months), I had to take my private prescription to a bog standard pharmacy.

They don't supply the drugs...you take the prescription to Boots like everyone else.

They won’t here in Wales. We have complete separation between private and NHS treatment.

Exactly. Only someone with no understanding of what life is like for someone with ADHD would say this.

The reason why the NHS waiting lists are so long is because, as mentioned, demand has gone through the roof. I work as a Community Mental Health Nurse and the numbers of people wanting an assessment has gone through the roof. Tbh, I think the majority of those requesting an assessment do not meet the criteria for diagnosis, though many may well have other mental health conditions. Anxiety, for instance, may make many become restless, fidgety and unable to relax. I've worked in the field for over 30 years, and can think of only 3 people that have jumped out at me as possibly meeting the diagnostic criteria. One has since been diagnosed with it (on the NHS), another I think moved and as a result wasn't followed up by our ADHD clinic and the third us on the waiting list for assessment.

I know our ADHD clinic do not have a great deal of respect for these private clinics, for much the same reasons as the programme was saying...very brief assessments, and too keen to give the diagnosis. The treatment for ADHD is very, very powerful stimulants (speed, basically!) and they have extremely nasty side effects which is why they need a thorough medical prior to commencing on them and regular monitoring eg regular BP measurements, ECGs etc.

This maybe controversial, especially as I'm not a parent, let alone of a child with ADHD, but if I had a child with this diagnosis, I would not be happy for them to go on such medication. I think they're far too powerful for a child. But that's just my opinion and i know its not one that everyone agrees with.

This

£50-£100 per month in prescriptions plus £100-200 per regular follow up with (unqualified) professional. And that’s for life. These clinics will be making a fortune.

Have reported

It's just not true that they make money off the medications, not in Scotland anyway. Private prescriptions are about £20.
No one "unqualified" to do so can prescribe medication

This isn’t true. I am privately diagnosed and have a shared care agreement between private psychiatrist in England and GP in Wales. So do others I know.

We don’t have the ‘Right to Choose’ pathways but shared care is available.

When I asked my GP I got a very short reply saying shared care wasn’t possible in Wales. 😡

Follow up consultations
private prescriptions

there's a fortune being made here. No offence but I'm a bit surprised at the question. There are loads of medical things that create a "patient for life" scenario, and clinics do really well from that.

arguably the NHS does too because it might then get extra funding.