Once never in the headlines, and cast aside as something about naughty boys, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) seems to be attracting a lot more focused, dare we say it positive news coverage these days.
The old discussion points of ‘does it exist?’, or ‘is it over diagnosed’ have given way to a public outcry discussing extraordinary long waiting times, large waiting lists and the significant under investment in this medical arena over many years.
The burden of providing highly demanded healthcare in an area of medicine that is a lifelong condition is taking its toll on the public purse, literally NHS commissioners cannot see a light at the end of the ADHD tunnel. Couple the years of under investment, with a significant misunderstanding of the condition and how to treat it, we are now witnessing an alternative set of perspectives at the strategic and operational level of NHS thinking.
Recent legislative decisions have confirmed that any patient in England can choose their provider for their ADHD assessment and treatment, as long as that provider qualifies against some reasonable criteria. Interesting, but not surprising, those patients are turning to the private sector for their interventions, not the local, or indeed wider spread NHS clinics. One of those providers is ADHD 360, a private company working under contract to the NHS across England, as well as servicing the needs of their many private patients. The service, possibly the largest of its kind, is also more cost effective than NHS clinics, and certainly more responsive, assessing ALL patients within 18 weeks of their referral. This compares very favourably to NHS waiting times that are traditionally discussed in terms of years, many years. ADHD 360 are receiving 1,000+ NHS referrals a week and still managing to provide an 18 week service of the highest quality. Far from being the disrupter to services when launched 5 years ago, the NHS are repeatedly reaching out for assistance and service provision. A technology enabled, people led service of quality standards often unmatched by the NHS, is garnering a lot of attention. Especially as the price point represents considerable value for money which at the end of it comes from the public purse.
Treating ADHD, is about managing risk. And the greatest risk, often overlooked is the actual risk of not treating someone with ADHD effectively if at all. People with ADHD have a shorter lifespan if they are not adequately treated, they lose their employment, relationships breakdown, and often crime and drug taking is frequent. It costs £37,000 to house someone in prison, and only £2,000 to treat their ADHD, per annum. The prison population is completely over represented with people with untreated ADHD, and where this bias to be shifted, many millions of pounds would be returned to the Chancellor for more meaningful distribution. Similarly, the costs to other aspects of the NHS when ADHD is not recognised nor treated is extraordinary, with GP’s and Crisis Centres carrying the majority of that unseen, and uncosted burden.
Now is the time for a national approach to the ADHD phenomenon, with the private sector being asked to contribute to solving the issue. The private sector is the ‘good guy’ here and it is high time NHS Commissioners saw the bigger picture and reached out for more help. They’ll find a dedicated, professional solution on their doorstep, wanting, waiting to be given even more opportunity to make a difference. Phil Anderton, Founder of ADHD 360