Looking ahead: Scotland, CAMHS funding, and better ADHD care
Scotland is leading the way in Mental Health investment through its 2017-2027 mental health strategy, announcing a £120 million investment into the Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund – ‘the single largest investment in mental health in the history of devolution.
A quick summary of the investment by NHS Scotland
As part of the investment, NHS Scotland has ring-fenced £40 million to help improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), where many ADHD referrals are seen. More specifically, NHS Scotland has, through its analyses, identified areas of improvement. This includes a further £15 million funding to manage the increased demand for services and reduce waiting lists, including neurodevelopmental assessments.
A recent audit however highlights that waiting lists continue to grow and services continue to evaluate effective methods to tackle this.
What does this mean for ADHD care in Scotland?
ADHD can be a challenging therapy area for CAMHS teams, specifically, reducing waiting lists and time to diagnosis, which we know are actually increasing across most health boards. QbTest is a proven technology, backed by NHS England as part of a 3-year programme with the goal to increase the number of children who receive an objective test as part of their ADHD assessment. Evidence has demonstrated that services could expedite the diagnostic process and increase confidence levels in ruling in or out ADHD.
Hear the experiences of a family taking QbTest and the views of multiple clinicians across different ADHD services in the UK
If you’d like to learn more about QbTest, why not schedule a brief introductory call with our team to learn how it can benefit your Health Board: