ADHD Service

Attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain develops, causing ongoing problems with paying attention and/or being very active and impulsive, overall making everyday life difficult.

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), it is estimated that 3-4% of adults have ADHD, (NICE, 2025)

NICE: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This link provides some supportive strategies to deal with suspected ADHD symptoms;

ADHD self-management resources

Symptoms

Symptoms of ADHD can vary between individuals, the 3 core subtypes are:

Inattention:

Easily distracted and forgetful
Hard to organise your time
Struggling to follow order and instructions or finishing tasks entirely
Losing items easily such as; phone, keys, wallet etc
Short attention span
Losing track of managing basic needs- eating, sleeping and drinking etc

Hyperactivity:

Excessive energy- especially during evening times/late in the night
Very talkative
Excessive fidgeting
Extreme focus on specific topics or activities without noticing

Impulsivity:

Being restless
Interrupting conversations consistently
Making important decisions without thinking about the result of it
Finding it hard to wait for your turn

ADHD can be manifested through all symptoms types or only be presented through one.

Women are more likely to present ADHD through inattention and so may find symptoms are much harder to detect.

If you believe you may have any of these ADHD symptoms or these symptoms are constantly affecting your studies, work functionality and/or social relationships, speak to your GP about getting referred into our service to find out what support may be available for you.

Assessment

During your assessment, the process will be with a specialist ADHD clinician where they will cover the key areas of ADHD through a holistic discussion using a specialised Diagnostic tool.

If you already have an existing diagnosis and are seeking treatment you can be referred into our service through your GP. Your circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by our ADHD team.

Monitoring and medication

Most common medication prescription may include:

Methylphenidate- NHS Medicines: Methylphenidate
Lisdexamfetamine- NICE Medicines: Lisdexamfetamine
Dexamphetamine- NICE Medicines: Dexamphetamine
Atomoxetine- NICE Medicines: Atomoxetine

It is crucial that after your ADHD assessment and medication prescriptions, you attend annual reviews.

This ensures whichever treatment you may be using is monitored for its effectiveness and is tailored to your needs including observational checks.

These observational checks will include testing:

Blood pressure
Pulse rate
Weight

Any potential side effects or impacts may prevent you from successfully continuing your treatment. These reviews allow you to express any concerns and issues with the treatment to alter them to fit your needs.

The New Model of Care

Our new ADHD Local Enhanced Service (LES), aims to:

Help reduce waiting times for potential assessment/ diagnoses and medication adjustments during ongoing monitoring and reviews.
Ensure patients are supported with the right care for their level of need- using the newly formulated Needs-Led Categorisation tool

Service Pathway

You can enter our ADHD service through a referral from your GP.

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Once transferred into the service (in line with our criteria), you will receive an appointment with a Neurodevelopmental Practitioner (NDP).

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During your NDP appointment, they will use a Needs-led categorisation tool- a conversational approach to holistically understand your needs, circumstances and symptoms that you may be experiencing and see whether you may require a diagnosis (however this appointment does not guarantee a diagnosis).

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Once reviewed you would then be matched to the most appropriate support available, dependent on your level of need.

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This support can include: psychosocial interventions, direction to educational resources and signposting to local services. Those patients indicating greater support need, based on the NDP tool, can be eligible for a diagnosis or a referral to more complex secondary care.

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If a diagnosis is confirmed and you wish to receive prescribed medication, regular follow up appointments will be in place to ensure a stable dose and medication is type is right for you.

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Finally once stabilised on the most suitable medication, 12 monthly annual reviews and 6 monthly observational reviews for ongoing monitoring will be in place. This ensures the treatment plan is the correct option for your day to day living.