ADHD - FOI Response Register

1. At the present time, what is the referral pathway for adults requesting ADHD assessment within your health board area?

Patient seen by GP for initial mental health screening. GP refers to Community Mental Health Team requesting assessment. Patient is asked to complete DIVA-5 and self-reporting questionnaires ahead of assessment. Initial consultation with Psychiatrist (one hour). If initiating medication, further appointment with Psychiatrist 2-3 months later. Medication monitoring one month later with duty CPN.

2. What plans are in place to develop Adult ADHD services in your health board area to support the growing number of adults seeking assessment, treatment, and support for undiagnosed ADHD?

Plan is to look at structured pathway, structures for resourcing and funding of this as an acknowledgement of the growing number of referrals into this pathway - and do this jointly with CAMHS so the pathway is streamline to anyone of any age

3. Please supply the written plans and policy documents detailing the process. If a formal plan is not yet in place, please supply meeting minutes where plans have been discussed.

Extract:

Mental Health Management Meeting on 11.8.23. 

Discussion was held regarding establishing an adult pathway and linking it with CAMHS pathway work that is currently underway and the adult ASD pathway.  Further meetings to be called with relevant stakeholders.

4. What is the current waiting time for adult ADHD assessment from referral to first appointment?

Current wait time is between 5-6 months

5. What is your target timescale from first appointment to conclusion of assessment?

3 months

6. What is your current average time from first appointment to conclusion of assessment?

Time taken to reach diagnosis is variable and is on a case by case basis. Some cases may take several appointments, and some are very easy to establish diagnosis.

7. For patients assessed during this calendar year, please supply the shortest and longest waiting time between receipt of referral to diagnosis.

Shortest wait – 6 weeks.

Longest wait – 5 months

How  many  hours  of  assessment  are  required  by  your  health  board  area  to  reach  a formal medical diagnosis of ADHD?

Time taken to reach diagnosis is variable and is on a case by case basis. Some cases may take several appointments, and some are very easy to establish diagnosis.

8. Who can diagnose ADHD within your health board area?

Mental Health Team only, specifically Consultant Psychiatrists.

How many referrals were made by GPs, each year, for the last 5 consecutive years, for adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis, broken down into the categories of male and female and by age?

CMHT only established an AHD pathway in December 2022 and as such cannot provide an answer to this question.

9. What number of adult patients were seen for an ADHD assessment, for the last 5 consecutive years within your health board area, broken down into the categories of male and female and by age?

CMHT only established an ADHD pathway in December 2022 and as such cannot provide an answer to this question.

10. What number of adult patients were diagnosed with ADHD within your health board area, for the last 5 consecutive years, broken down into the categories of male and female and by age?

CMHT only established an ADHD pathway in December 2022 and as such cannot provide an answer to this question.

11. What centrally disseminated information is being given out by GPs currently to adults seeking support  for  ADHD,  and  what  are  the  numbers  of  people  being  given  this  information?

Please supply copies of documents or letters sent to GPs detailing the process. Including a sample of the information, if provided, for GPs to disseminate to patients.

N/A. Psychiatrists have met with various health centres and GPs to discuss ADHD pathway referrals and have shared information with clinical governance pathway and shared care pathway.

12. What criteria is being used by GP’s within your health board area, to determine whether a patient should be referred on for ADHD assessment?

None. Referral is screened by psychiatrist and if felt appropriate is then added to assessment wait list. Patients are sent DIVA-5 and self-reporting questionnaires by CMHT ahead of ADHD assessment.

13. What is your health board area’s policy for privately diagnosed patients receiving care under Shared Care Agreements?  What  guidance  is  the  most  up  to  date  guidance  provided  to  GPs regarding this?

No established guidance. Routinely referred by GP.

14. What is the process for privately diagnosed patients being accepted for ongoing care under your health board area’s Psychiatric services and no longer requiring private appointments?

No established guidance. Routinely referred by GP.

15. What is the transition process for children ageing out of the CAMHS service, and moving to adult services, who are being treated and supported for ADHD?

Case by case basis currently. Work being done to establish transition process between CAMHS and adult mental health.

16. What is the transition process for children ageing out of the CAMHS service while on the waiting list?

Case by case basis currently. Work being done to establish transition process between CAMHS and adult mental health.