Private clinics are supplying a rapidly growing share of ADHD medication in Northern Ireland, with new figures highlighting the strain caused by long NHS waiting times and gaps in adult services. Data obtained by BBC News NI shows that almost 4,000 private prescriptions for ADHD drugs were issued to people in Northern Ireland in 2024, compared with just six in 2019.
The figures, released by the HSC Business Services Organisation through a freedom of information request, reveal that nearly half of these prescriptions were supplied by clinics based in Great Britain. Although NHS services still account for the vast majority of ADHD medication overall, private prescribing is increasing at a much faster pace.
Health officials acknowledge that waiting times for assessment are driving patients to seek private care. In Northern Ireland, children can wait several years for an ADHD assessment, while adult ADHD services are not formally commissioned. The Department of Health Northern Ireland has described the situation as unacceptable.
For Keith Lawrence, a network engineer from Lisburn, the decision to go private followed years of frustration. He first recognised symptoms of ADHD while supporting his son through an assessment. When he sought help himself, he was told the NHS waiting list could stretch from five years to as long as a decade.
Hoping the system would improve, Mr Lawrence waited before eventually turning to an online private clinic in England. He was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD after a detailed process that included questionnaires, a video consultation, and background information from a family member. He was prescribed methylphenidate, the most commonly used medication for ADHD.
Private ADHD prescriptions typically cost between £15 and £130 per month, depending on the drug. Mr Lawrence estimates his own costs at around £100 a month, plus additional review appointments twice a year. Despite the expense, he says the impact has been transformative.
He describes the treatment as life changing, explaining that medication has helped him manage symptoms he had previously only coped with. However, his request for a shared care agreement, where a GP takes over prescribing from a specialist, was declined.
Shared care arrangements remain a major point of tension. Dr Frances O’Hagan, chair of the BMA NI GP Committee, says GPs are advised that patients who pursue private diagnoses should not expect the NHS to automatically assume responsibility. Even within NHS pathways, GPs can refuse shared care if they feel it falls outside their expertise.
Concerns also remain about consistency in assessment standards. Dr O’Hagan notes that NHS ADHD assessments are usually detailed and conducted face to face, and she believes the same level of rigour should apply in the private sector. Without commissioned adult ADHD services, there is often no NHS specialist available to provide the oversight required for shared care.
Despite these challenges, patients continue to turn to private clinics. Social work assistant Katie Graden-Tyson from Belfast says she is struggling without support and has been told she could wait around 10 years for an NHS assessment. Although she views medication as a last option, she feels she has little choice but to explore private care.
The Department of Health says it is taking steps to address the growing demand. A report is due next year to assess the scale of need for an ADHD service in Northern Ireland, as pressure continues to mount from patients caught between long waits and costly private treatment.
