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A support group for islanders with ADHD have said they are concerned that the wellbeing of islanders with milder symptoms will suffer if they end up getting "bumped to the bottom" as a result of changes to waiting lists to manage demand.
As Express reported earlier this week, Mental Health Director Andy Weir said that the Health Department is exploring the possibility of either closing the waitlist or prioritising ADHD assessments based on the severity and impact of symptoms.
This comes after a surge in referrals in recent years has overwhelmed an under-staffed ADHD service and led to a backlog of more than 700 patients.
Mr Weir attributed the backlog to limited staffing resources in Jersey and a "unique system" where only specialists can prescribe medication, managed by one consultant psychiatrist and one junior doctor who handle a caseload of over 200 people per month.
"Those who've been on the list for ages already could potentially be bumped to the bottom?"
But ADHD Jersey said they felt that this approach could be unfair to those with milder symptoms who have already been waiting for months or years, potentially leading to an "uprising."
Founder Rachel Tippet said: "Focusing solely on severe cases may neglect those with milder symptoms who could benefit from treatment.
"This could then put them at a higher risk of developing mental health issues like depression and could make them feel like they don't matter."
Pictured: Mental Health Director Andy Weir.
ADHD Jersey's secretary, Carly Williams added: "I think prioritising based on severity sounds all well and good, but who would be in charge of determining priority? And is that just going to waste more time that could be spent on performing assessments?"
"Those who've been on the list for ages already could potentially be bumped to the bottom? I think there'd be an uprising!"
"Really difficult" to recruit specialist
ADHD Jersey also said they were "very concerned" about the staffing issues facing the Health Department.
Mrs Tippet said: "It is unfortunate that we are now left with only one specialist in Adult Mental Health who is qualified to diagnose ADHD as many of the psychiatrists have set up the public service to start up a private practice."
Ms Williams said: "The department should recruit or redirect psychiatrists to ADHD diagnosis."
However, Mr Weir explained that efforts to recruit additional specialists had been unsuccessful as getting a psychiatrist with specialist expertise in ADHD to come to the island was "really difficult".
Pictured (left to right): ADHD Jersey's secretary Carly Williams, project manager Kizz Moon, and founder Rachel Tippet.
He said: "It's not a money issue. We actually can't get any specialists. We've tried agencies, we've tried short-term contracts. I've interviewed three times in the past four months. We are desperately trying to get someone, but we can't.
"There is a finite resource in terms of people with specialist expertise in this area, not least because it is relatively new."
He added that only 13 psychiatrists were working for the adult mental health service and he needed to balance the demand for ADHD services alongside other mental health needs.
Push for prescribing changes
Ms Williams also suggested that "GPs should be allowed to prescribe medication where individuals are settled on their ADHD medication for more than six months".
This was echoed by Mrs Tippet, who suggested: "The government should allow other healthcare professionals, such as primary care physicians or nurse practitioners, to prescribe ADHD medication."
An islander on the ADHD waitlist, who didn't want to be named, said "It should be like the UK where a psychiatrist does the assessment and the reviews and GPs are able to prescribe the medication. Not only would it give the psychiatrist more time for assessments but it would save the hospital pharmacy staff a lot of work on their already busy schedule.
"This would drastically reduce the waiting lists and be the common sense option.
However, Mr Weir said in a statement last week: "The possibility of joint prescribing of ADHD medication with GPs remains under consideration."
Pictured: Members of local non-profit advocacy group ADHD Jersey.
In Jersey, controlled drugs – including ADHD medication – can only be prescribed by a specialist, rather than a GP.
Joint prescribing refers to a shared care arrangement with primary care so that the routine prescribing of medication could be done by a GP or community pharmacist.
This would allow the island's single ADHD psychiatrist to focus on providing diagnostic assessments, rather than filling out repeat prescriptions.
According to Mr Weir, this is commonplace in other jurisdictions where the initial ADHD assessment and treatment plan would be initiated by a specialist, followed by routine medication prescription by GPs.
The Mental Health Director added that the global medication shortage has forced Health to prescribe medication to patients every four weeks, rather than every six weeks.
As a result, Mr Weir said the consultant psychiatrist is spending an"extraordinary amount of their time just doing repeat prescriptions"
What support is available?
ADHD Jersey has created online support pages on social media platforms, such as the "ADHD Adults Jersey" and "ADHD Guardians" Facebook groups.
These groups provide a platform for ADHD patients to connect with others facing similar challenges, share experiences, and seek advice – even without a formal diagnosis.
The group also organises monthly meet-ups, events and sessions at Jersey Cheshire Home Community Centre in Green Street.
They aim to create a sense of community and promote awareness and understanding of ADHD, and how to cope with it.
For example, Ms Williams led a guided discussion on the positive aspects of the condition last month.
She emphasised the welcoming and supportive atmosphere of the sessions and encouraged everyone struggling with their symptoms to come along.
She said: "People often arrive very nervous for the first time, which is common, as people with ADHD often experience social anxiety, which can make them fear the unknown.
"But as soon as we start sharing experiences in a judgment-free zone they immediately relax and feel like it has had a huge positive impact."
This initiative educates employers on best practices for accommodating employees with ADHD and creating an inclusive work environment.
ADHD Jersey is also running a 13-week initiative designed to help individuals with ADHD reframe negative beliefs they may have internalised over time by providing structured support and guidance.
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