Ministers have rejected a scrutiny recommendation calling for an ADHD hub to be set up for patients to collect medication and receive advice.

Both the Health and Social Security Ministers have responded jointly to the panel's advice in a document published last December.

They have accepted in full six out of the panel's 10 recommendations - including ensuring islanders know where they are on the waiting list, which is now up to 924 people as of this month, January 2025.

Currently, only one specialist part-time consultant psychiatrist can diagnose islanders with ADHD and issue medication.

Deputy Louise Doublet, who led the scrutiny panel, said this means the island's only assessor ends up spending ‘an extraordinary amount of their time just doing repeat prescriptions'.

The waiting time for adults to be assessed is currently around 3.5 years. 

Health Minister Tom Binet tells Channel 103 why he rejected the idea of introducing an ADHD hub or clinic in Jersey, which would provide islanders with or without diagnoses with help and advice: 

"A hub is going to cost a hell of a lot more money in any event, and need more staff.

"We haven't got any more money and, at the end of the day, the drugs are in short supply. We haven't got the trained staff that we need and they aren't available."

Deputy Tom Binet

The panel's report also asked for a training programme to be introduced for nurses, to provide them with the necessary skills to issue prescriptions for ADHD medications. 

The Health Minister's response revealed that a scheme already exists, which two nurses are currently undertaking. 

However Deputy Binet noted there is no guarantee after the training is complete that the nurses will want to work in this specialist area, or if there will be the money to replace them in their current job if they decide to move into more of an ADHD-focused role. 

He did reveal though that one Senior Nurse has been recruited, who can prescribe ADHD medication. 

The Health Minister was asked whether he believes this will be enough to bring down waiting lists and support the one person in the island currently able to give out the medication:

"It's bound to, to a point, but there is a significant waiting list and - to have any real impact - it will take more than that."

Deputy Louise Doublet

One notable recommendation that was accepted, was to explore the option to fund GPs to get trained in ADHD assessment and diagnoses. 

Deputy Binet said this would require additional funding, however work will continue to get GPs up to speed, to hopefully bring down the waiting lists. 

He told Channel 103: "We are talking to the doctors for a Shared Care Pathway, which would mean that some of them might be prescribing, depending on whether we can find agreement with them or not."

However, only one GP service has currently been identified as 'interested' in taking part. 

Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham also confirmed she would consult further with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee about whether to add ADHD medications to what's called the 'Prescribed list'.

This would enable GPs to prescribe ADHD drugs, taking pressure off the one (soon to be two) healthcare professionals that can write prescriptions.