The number of prescriptions for ADHD medication given out privately has surged in the UK, as patients seek to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists. According to statistics obtained by the BBC, in 2023-24, almost 400,000 private prescriptions for ADHD drugs were issued, up from just over 28,000 in 2018-19. Many patients face waits of up to eight years for assessments on the NHS, with research indicating a backlog of hundreds of thousands of ADHD diagnoses. It is believed that patients have spent millions of pounds on private treatment, with one family stating they had re-mortgaged their home to pay for medication.
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, affects behaviour and ability to focus, with feelings of anxiety, irrational behaviour, depression, and impulsivity being symptoms. Up to 4% of adults in the UK are thought to have ADHD, with around 5% of children globally similarly affected. NHS waiting lists for ADHD assessments were unacceptably long with over 196,000 adults on waiting lists in 2020, according to a previous BBC investigation.
The cost of private treatment is prohibitive for many, with some claiming that it is unaffordable. The most frequently prescribed drug, methylphenidate, can range between £15 and £50 per month, while more expensive drugs, such as lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine, can cost up to £130 per month. A variety of reasons have been cited for the rise in prescriptions, including an increasing awareness of ADHD, celebrities, such as Ant McPartlin, talking about their diagnoses as well as individuals self-diagnosing on social media sites, such as TikTok.
Although traditional stereotypes have suggested that ADHD is more common in young, excitable boys, there is increasing evidence that women and girls suffer from the condition equally. Some health professionals, such as Emily Dove, a private assistant psychologist in Leeds with ADHD herself, believe that the NHS is more likely to diagnose anxiety and depression, citing an associated cost issue with a full ADHD diagnosis. A recent report by Lord Darzi highlighted the severity of ADHD waiting list delays across the UK and identified significant issues in the NHS’s ADHD processes. The NHS has recently launched an ADHD taskforce to help tackle these problems
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