Understanding people's experiences of accessing support for ADHD
Download (PDF 694.46 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Gloucestershire used the Gloucestershire findings of Healthwatch England's ADHD survey to paint a picture of people's experiences of of accessing support for ADHD. This report is based on the experiences of 14 people.
The impact that ADHD has on people's lives can be profound, affecting work, relationships and day to day functioning, often resulting in people experiencing poor mental health.
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be life-changing – giving people a better understanding of themselves and access to medication, and improving their ability to manage their health and wellbeing.
Despite requesting a Right to Choose pathway, choice of provider in Gloucestershire is very limited, and people are still being told that the waiting list is between two and five years long.
People want support while they wait for an ADHD assessment, but most aren't getting any.
Some people are put off from seeing their GP to get a referral to an ADHD assessment because of concerns about being overwhelmed and the long wait times involved in getting an assessment.
People with ADHD or suspected ADHD can be reluctant to speak to their employers about support. Those that had, felt that their employer could not meet their needs in a meaningful way, highlighting a lack of practical support.