A WOMAN from Deganwy has told of the struggle she has faced in obtaining an assessment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The woman, who asked not to be named, says she is “certain” she has “all of the markers” of ADHD, but so far has only been offered a mental health assessment by Nant y Glyn Community Mental Health Team in Colwyn Bay.

This followed her GP making a referral to Nant y Glyn last November, with her believing that the delays that have ensued since then have shown that those in a position to offer her an ADHD assessment are “simply not interested”.

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So far, she has been told she does not meet the criteria set out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to be eligible for a formal ADHD assessment.

The woman added that her mental health assessment, scheduled to take place later this year, was offered after she made a complaint via the NHS' Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

She said: “I only realised I thought I might have ADHD late last year. I went to my GP, who made a referral to Nant y Glyn in November.

“In January, I was told I had an appointment at Nant y Glyn’s ADHD clinic for about a month later. Two weeks later, I was told it had been pushed back to April.

“I waited for another couple of months, and all I got was a letter to my GP, which I was copied into, saying I didn’t meet the NICE guidelines for an ADHD assessment, but if the GP still thought I had ADHD, to send a more detailed referral back to them.”

This left the woman, who had submitted a 14-page document explaining why she thought she had ADHD, “obviously very upset”.

She said that she then sent another document, but was again told by Nant y Glyn that she didn’t meet the ADHD criteria, and that she may, in fact, be suffering from anxiety and issues with food.

While she acknowledges that she does have an eating disorder and anxiety, she believes she suffers from these as well as, rather than instead of, ADHD.

The woman is also awaiting an assessment for autism, she added.

She said: “I am certain I have ADHD and am desperate for help. I have all of the markers of ADHD; I’m not just making it up.

“They say I don't meet the NICE guidelines, but I researched them myself, and I believe I do. My GP would not have referred me if he thought I didn't meet the guidelines.

"In comparison, the Integrated Autism Service was excellent, adding me to their waiting list only two weeks after my referral.

“I am so angry and upset. I was crying on the phone; they're simply not interested.

"There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other people in this area and nationwide that are in exactly the position as me, with these types of miscommunications and errors taking place frequently, and flat-out refusals to assess individuals for ADHD without proper explanation."

The woman's mental health assessment later this year is due to be undertaken by a male psychiatrist, but she has also asked for a female professional to assess her due to “previous domestic violence and trauma”.

She said she made this request three weeks ago but has had no response so far.

In response, Alberto Salmoiraghi, consultant psychiatrist and medical director of mental health and learning disabilities at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, apologised for her unhappiness with the process that has been ongoing in her case.

She has been contacted directly, he added, regarding her issues with the process.

Dr Salmoiraghi said: “We’re sorry to hear she was disappointed with the ADHD assessment process.

“While we cannot comment on individual patient care, regarding ADHD assessments, we follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. 

“We have contacted her directly to discuss the matter further.”