Adults with ADHD could soon collect two-month prescriptions instead of having to go to the pharmacy every month under a new prescribing policy due to be introduced this summer.
Health and Care Jersey confirmed it is developing its first dedicated policy for prescribing ADHD medication to adults, with the main change allowing prescriptions to be extended from one month to two months where “clinically appropriate”.
Managing director Andy Weir said the change was intended to make life easier for patients while freeing up clinicians’ time.
The change aims to make it easier for patients to access and collect their medication
Andy Weir, managing director of Health and Care Jersey
Following queries from Express, he explained: “A new prescribing policy is being developed specifically to extend the length of a prescription for adult ADHD medication. Where clinically appropriate, it will be extended from one month to two months.
“The change aims to make it easier for patients to access and collect their medication. It will also increase capacity within the service as clinicians will spend less time processing routine prescription renewals.
“It is anticipated that this change will be introduced in August.”
The move comes after years of pressure on Jersey’s ADHD service. Mr Weir previously described the “core issue” as a lack of capacity, with only one consultant psychiatrist and one junior doctor able to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication to hundreds of patients.
Unlike in the UK, GPs in Jersey are not permitted to manage ADHD medication through shared care arrangements, which means the consultant psychiatrist and junior doctor must also issue all repeat prescriptions.
A report that set out a series of recommendations aimed at bettering Jersey’s ADHD service was published in 2024, shortly after a global shortage of ADHD medication forced the Health Department to issue monthly rather than six-weekly prescriptions.
This situation, coupled with long queues at the hospital pharmacy, made it increasingly difficult for many to access treatment and left some Islanders worried that their designated medication would run out.
Express previously reported that some patients had felt forced to turn to illegal drugs such as cannabis – or medication bought on the dark web – to ease their symptoms.
At the end of April 2026, just under 1,200 adults were waiting for an ADHD assessment in Jersey.
The median wait for Islanders currently waiting for ADHD assessment is 707 days – or almost two years.
HAVE YOUR SAY…
Are you an adult with ADHD in Jersey? Will being able to collect a two-month prescription make a difference to your daily life, or are there still problems you think need to be addressed?
We’d like to hear about your experiences with ADHD services, prescription renewals, waiting times or accessing medication.
Get in touch by emailing editor@bailiwickexpress.com.
