'I've been told to wait 18 MONTHS for ADHD meds - even going private hasn't helped'

People in Manchester are facing waiting times of up to 18 months to receive ADHD medication due to a ‘significant demand’ for neurodevelopmental disorder services.

Will Belshah, 29, underwent an ADHD assessment with a private psychiatrist through medical insurance at his former workplace in 2021. Having moved house in the time since, he only recently approached his GP practice for a prescription at the start of the year.

But Will said doctors at Cornbrook Medical Practice, where he is a patient, told him there would be a wait ‘between 12-18 months’ to receive Xaggatin, a medicine used to treat ADHD. He says it has left him feeling ‘in limbo’ as he struggles without treatment.

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The NHS has since revealed to the M.E.N that more than 10,000 adults are currently on waiting lists for ADHD assessments just in Greater Manchester.

“I got a referral put through in January but there was a bit of confusion with it so I only recently got put back onto a 12-18 month waiting list even though I’ve done the referral and been diagnosed,” Will told the M.E.N.

“I’ve literally paid for services privately. If they want to privatise the NHS, at least make it work. I paid to have that done so it could get done quickly and so I could get access to the help that I need and it still didn’t work.

“I’ve done all the legwork - I’ve got the report done and the psychiatrist has prepared the treatment schedule. All I’m waiting for now is for the prescription to be signed off. I know it’s a controlled substance, but it has just got lost in a loop of referrals.”

Will said he lost his SEO job recently in part due to struggling without the correct medication for his ADHD. With