- FoI Number
- 2024-050
- Subject
- Adult ADHD
- Date Received
- 18/04/2024
- Request and Response
-
- Are all adults who are referred for an ADHD assessment given one of these appointments?
Yes, please see attached pathway
- If not, please provide a list of the criteria that must be met in order for an ADHD assessment to be offered.
NA
- If all adults are not offered an ADHD assessment as requested, please provide a copy of the policy where the reasons for this and associated processes are detailed.
NA
- If all adults are not offered an ADHD assessment as requested, please advise when this decision was made, by whom, and which patient groups were included in the decision-making process.
NA
- Do you offer follow-up treatment therapy for those adults with positive diagnoses?
Only if it is deemed necessary by the Consultant Psychiatrist, i.e. if the condition is adversely affecting the day-to-day functioning of the individual. All patients who agree to trialling medication are offered a follow-up appointment to check medication.
- If all adults are not offered an ADHD assessment as requested or follow-up treatment therapy for ADHD post-diagnosis, please give details of plans and timescales for developing clinical services for adult ADHD.
NA
- Please provide monthly totals for those specifically referred for ADHD assessment since January 2019. Please split this by HSCP, and postcode area. Please also advise how many of these were accepted and rejected.
Adult MH services did not provide ADHD assessments prior to 2021. Shetland has only one HSCP
Month
2021
2022
2023
January
<5
0
6
Feb
0
<5
13
March
0
<5
12
April
<5
<5
11
May
<5
9
11
June
<5
<5
24
July
<5
5
19
August
<5
10
12
Sept
<5
9
17
Oct
<5
9
16
Nov
<5
13
17
Dec
<5
10
10
Where we have given <5 answers this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- If an adult patient were referred today, when could they expect to be assessed for ADHD?
The general entitlement under FOISA s 1(1) is that “A person who requests information from a Scottish public authority which holds it is entitled to be given it by the authority.” Requests for estimates/speculation/opinion are therefore not valid under FOISA.
However, the following information on waiting times may be helpful:
In 2023, the shortest wait for assessment was 53 days and the longest wait was 262 days. It is important to note the following factors:
- Individuals are prioritised depending on the urgency of the referral.
- Long waiting times can result from a number of factors, including patients not attending appointments offered (waiting time is calculated from referral to first appointment attended)
