In recognition of ADHD Awareness Month, health officials in Guernsey are actively looking for ways to improve services for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The States of Guernsey have outlined initiatives aimed at reducing waiting lists and expanding local capacity to meet a significant increase in demand.
What is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how the brain functions, often leading to challenges with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity.
It is one of the most common mental disorders diagnosed in children, and its symptoms can continue into adulthood.
Expanding the Role of GPs and Adding New Specialists
A key part of this strategy involves empowering local general practitioners (GPs).
Several GPs with a special interest in ADHD have been participating in a regular supervision group to expand their role in managing the condition.
The goal is to bring patients with more manageable symptoms, who may have been diagnosed through private services, under the care of a GP.
This approach is expected to free up capacity for new assessments within the States’ health services.
The island’s healthcare system is also bolstering its team with new specialists. A new ADHD nurse specialist, who is also a non-medical prescriber, has been hired to diagnose and begin treatment for children and adolescents.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) plans to train another nurse for the same role, which will further increase the service’s ability to address the rising demand.
Expanding the Role of GPs and Adding New Specialists
A key part of this strategy involves empowering local general practitioners (GPs).
Several GPs with a special interest in ADHD have been participating in a regular supervision group to expand their role in managing the condition.
The goal is to bring patients with more manageable symptoms, who may have been diagnosed through private services, under the care of a GP.
This approach is expected to free up capacity for new assessments within the States’ health services.
The island’s healthcare system is also bolstering its team with new specialists. A new ADHD nurse specialist, who is also a non-medical prescriber, has been hired to diagnose and begin treatment for children and adolescents.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) plans to train another nurse for the same role, which will further increase the service’s ability to address the rising demand.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
The symptoms of ADHD are grouped into three main categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While it’s normal for people to experience these behaviours occasionally, for someone with ADHD, they are more severe, persistent, and interfere with daily life at school, work, or in social settings.
Inattention: This involves difficulty with focus and concentration. Symptoms may include:
- Being easily distracted.
- Having a short attention span.
- Making careless mistakes.
- Appearing not to listen when spoken to directly.
- Having trouble organising tasks and activities.
- Losing things frequently.
- Forgetting daily tasks or appointments.
Hyperactivity: This is characterised by excessive movement and restlessness. Symptoms may include:
- Fidgeting or squirming in their seat.
- Being unable to sit still for long periods.
- Talking excessively.
- Having a lot of energy, as if “driven by a motor.”
- Running or climbing in inappropriate situations.
Impulsivity: This refers to acting without thinking about the consequences. Symptoms may include:
- Blurting out answers before a question is finished.
- Having difficulty waiting their turn.
- Interrupting or intruding on others’ conversations or activities.
- Making quick decisions without considering the potential risks.
What are the types of ADHD?
ADHD is categorised into three types, or “presentations,” based on which symptoms are most prominent:
- Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: The individual has enough symptoms of inattention but not enough of hyperactivity-impulsivity. This is what was formerly known as Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD).
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The individual has enough symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity but not enough of inattention. This is the least common type.
- Combined Presentation: This is the most common type. The individual has a combination of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
It’s important to note that a person’s presentation of ADHD can change over time. For example, a child with the hyperactive-impulsive type may transition to a combined or predominantly inattentive type in adulthood.
What causes of ADHD?
The exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood, but it is believed to be a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.
Research suggests that ADHD often runs in families, indicating a strong genetic link. Other factors that may increase the risk of developing ADHD include:
- Premature birth or low birth weight.
- Brain injury.
- Exposure to certain toxins, such as lead, during early childhood.
- Prenatal exposure to substances like alcohol or nicotine.
It is important to dispel common myths: ADHD is not caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much TV, or poor parenting.
Frequently asked questions:
I have experienced a delay in diagnosis for ADHD. What do I do?
Oakwood Solicitors can assist with clinical negligence claims if you believe a delayed diagnosis of ADHD resulted in harm or suffering.
You may be eligible to claim compensation if a late or incorrect diagnosis has negatively impacted your health and well-being.
Oakwood solicitors offer free initial advice to assess your case’s prospects and help determine if you can bring about a claim.
What is a delay in medical diagnosis?
Here, a medical professional fails to diagnosis a health condition when they should have done or fails to refer you for investigations, meaning you are diagnosed late.
This can again lead to a worsening of the condition and prolong your period without necessary treatment.
This can encompass delays in referrals, scans and other investigations. It can also include medical professionals overlooking symptoms or records that are re-reviewed at a later date and urgently acted upon once the delay has been identified.
Where might misdiagnosis or delay occur and with what conditions?
Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in all areas of medical practice. However, are very common in the following settings:
- GP Negligence
- A&E Negligence
- Dental Negligence
- Hospital Negligence
- Surgical Negligence
Furthermore, medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in diagnosing any medical conditions however are very common in the following medical conditions:
- Orthopaedic issues such as fractures and cauda equina syndrome.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Infections
- Meningitis
Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can severely affect an individual’s life, treatment options, recovery period and in more serious cases, the chance of survival.
If you have been given the wrong medical advice or course of treatment, which has left you in a debilitating condition, you may be eligible to make a medical misdiagnosis and/or delay claim.
How do I make a claim?
If you feel that you have been affected as a result of late diagnosis or incorrect or inappropriate treatment, then you may be entitled to bring about a compensation claim.
The team at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd will be able to give you free advice on the prospects of your case and whether you would be eligible to make a claim.
How much is my claim worth?
It is often difficult to value clinical negligence claims at their outset, given the complexities involved; however, we will pursue two forms of compensation for you:
- General damages – an award of money for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the negligence.
- Special damages – an award of money for all of your out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel expenses, medication costs, loss of earnings, and treatment costs, both past and future. This list is not exhaustive and is very case-specific.
Why should I choose Oakwood Solicitors?
We have a dedicated team of solicitors and paralegals who have many years of experience between them in running cases of this nature. They are highly trained to deal with all aspects of clinical and medical negligence.
Oakwood Solicitors Ltd wishes to ensure that clients are not overwhelmed by legal jargon or medical terms that they don’t understand and aims to allow the claims procedure to be as transparent as possible.
Further information:
ADHD Awareness Month.
October is ADHD awareness month.
Oakwood Solicitors: ADHD Awareness Month 2024.
Oakwood solicitors: Medical Misdiagnosis or Delay.
WHAT TO DO NEXT?
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a delay in a ADHD diagnosis, get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 323 3963.
Carol Cook joined Oakwood Solicitors in May 2017 to lead the Medical Negligence Department.
Carol handles a wide range of clinical, cosmetic and dental negligence claims and has years of experi…
Delayed diagnosis case study
The claimant suffered an injury to the ankle, X-ray imagining revealed no fractures and the Claimant was diagnosed with a soft tissue injury and discharged from A&E with advice to rest.
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