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ADHD

Hi, I’m a student looking to get an ADHD diagnosis. My gp referred me to a clinic in Harrow in October 2024. The doctor said the waiting time would be shorter than Right to Choose, so I followed his advice. Now, I’ve been trying to receive updates since then and at times I’d call the gp and they would give me the wrong number or email, which would leave me to wait for several weeks.

Today I decided enough is enough. I called my gp and told them to tell me the phone number. I called it and as expected, it was not the clinic for ADHD. Then I was told they can only be contacted by email so I sent them an email about the waiting times.

Curiously I saw their email, and tried to find website with the email linked. And sure enough, I found it. However, Not only did it say, they no longer reply to emails asking of waiting times, but it also said the waiting time is an average of 36 months.

So I was sent on a wild goose chase, AGAIN, and now I know it will take 3 years for me to be given the opportunity to be assessed for a diagnosis through the NHS. That’s the same amount of time needed to finish a university degree!

You may think I should have expected this because ADHD is known for its long waiting times, but the doctor told me it would take around 6 months. If this were true I would be so happy but I guess it’s not.

I could go private but I’m still a student right now, and I don’t want my mum spending so much money on something I can get for free, but 36 months is a joke. The longest I’ve ever heard was around 24.

I’m just so upset and confused, I don’t know who I can speak to about this. I’ve even spoken to teachers at my school who deal with students like me, but I haven’t received any updates. This situation is so frustrating because I know I need support, I need help, but I’m just being lied to and confused every time I try to reach out. I don’t know at this point so I guess you’re my last resort.

What can I even do in this situation?

Reply 1

If it helps, where I live, the waiting list is over 5 years. We don't have Right to Choose here but from talking to people living elsewhere, Right to Chose does tend to be quicker so it may be worth enquiring with your GP about that again. May also be worth enquiring with your uni if they have means of organising an assessment. Failing that, going private is probably your only option, but be ware that GPs are often reluctant to prescribe medications that are recommended via a private assessment so you would need to factor in costs for private prescription too.

Reply 2

Original post
by black tea
If it helps, where I live, the waiting list is over 5 years. We don't have Right to Choose here but from talking to people living elsewhere, Right to Chose does tend to be quicker so it may be worth enquiring with your GP about that again. May also be worth enquiring with your uni if they have means of organising an assessment. Failing that, going private is probably your only option, but be ware that GPs are often reluctant to prescribe medications that are recommended via a private assessment so you would need to factor in costs for private prescription too.

WOW.... I thought in Israel it was awful. Here it is 2-3 years wait but insurance cover the privet clinics (at least for students u-18). However, here it looks like they push medications and the whole process seems to be built to prescribe more and more medications rather than coping techniques and stuff.
I was very lucky to find a good therapist and lucky I was taught to study in the right way for me ever since started school so my ADHD wasn't so bad during university. I was even in denial being ADHD until recently. I had a diagnosis but I was more paying attention to my dyslexia than ADHD. Dyslexia was much more noticeable (how can a good student write the same word 5 times in a different way and none of them were right).

It looks like in UK they try to avoid over use of prescription medication for ADHD. It is not always the right way, but on the other hand, they also don't teach coping techniques either. I've spoken to some people with ADHD in USA and UK and it looks like in Israel and USA they invest much more on coping techniques while still pushing medication... sounds strange.

Reply 3

Original post
by Kathy89
WOW.... I thought in Israel it was awful. Here it is 2-3 years wait but insurance cover the privet clinics (at least for students u-18). However, here it looks like they push medications and the whole process seems to be built to prescribe more and more medications rather than coping techniques and stuff.
I was very lucky to find a good therapist and lucky I was taught to study in the right way for me ever since started school so my ADHD wasn't so bad during university. I was even in denial being ADHD until recently. I had a diagnosis but I was more paying attention to my dyslexia than ADHD. Dyslexia was much more noticeable (how can a good student write the same word 5 times in a different way and none of them were right).
It looks like in UK they try to avoid over use of prescription medication for ADHD. It is not always the right way, but on the other hand, they also don't teach coping techniques either. I've spoken to some people with ADHD in USA and UK and it looks like in Israel and USA they invest much more on coping techniques while still pushing medication... sounds strange.

The mental health system in the UK is shambolic in general.

Reply 4

Original post
by black tea
The mental health system in the UK is shambolic in general.

Here too... but it seems like in the UK it is even worse... Sorry.

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