Buckinghamshire Adult ADHD Service
Sections in this leaflet
What is ADHD?
ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
It is a neurodevelopmental heterogeneous behavioural syndrome characterised by the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention.
It is understood to affect 3-4% of the adult population.
How can it impact people?
ADHD affects an individual’s behaviour and includes significant symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and sometimes emotional dysregulation.
These symptoms will have been evident since early childhood.
Inattention
Difficulties with inattention may include:
- Being very easily distracted and struggling to concentrate.
- Difficulties staying organised.
- Finding it hard to manage time effectively.
- Failing to meet deadlines.
Hyperactivity
Difficulties with hyperactivity may include:
- Feeling restless all the time.
- Difficulties staying still.
- Struggling to wait your turn.
- Being impatient with others.
Impulsivity
Difficulties with impulsivity may include:
- Saying or doing things rashly or without thinking about the consequences.
- Unpredictable actions and behaviour.
Recognising ADHD
ADHD affects people in different ways and not everyone will display all the symptoms (or display symptoms in the same way).
Some people may receive an ADHD diagnosis as a child.
Childhood behaviours may persist into adulthood, but they may also change or diminish over time.
Some people learn to manage and mask their symptoms of ADHD through coping strategies over time.
Stage 1: The referral process
You will need to complete a Bucks adult ADHD referral form with your GP or NHS professional. This will be sent to us along with a doctor’s supporting letter and medical summary.
Stage 2: Reviewing the referral
When the ADHD service receives your referral, we will look through the referral to ensure that it has been completed as fully as possible.
If there is important information missing, we will contact the GP to ask that this is completed where possible.
The triage process
The clinical team will read your referral carefully to ensure we understand your difficulties.
The more information you can give us about your symptoms and daily functional impact this has the better.
We will then decide whether your information meets the threshold for us to offer you an assessment for possible ADHD.
- We follow the NICE guidelines when we make this decision. See: nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87.
We may feel that the information you have given us indicates another diagnosis is more likely, or that another type of support would be more helpful to you at this point.
Whilst we aim to triage your referral as quickly as possible, unfortunately, due to unprecedented demand there is likely to be a delay with this part of the process.
- We will write to your GP to indicate the outcome of the triage process and will copy this letter to you.
- If you meet the threshold for an ADHD assessment, we will put you on our waiting list.
- As soon as we are able to offer you an assessment, we will be in touch by email or phone to offer you an appointment.
- At this stage we will send you some questionnaires for you and an informant (usually family member) to complete and bring with you to your appointment.
- Please note that, due to unprecedented demand, there are very long waits for an assessment.
Stage 3: The diagnostic assessment
The assessment may take up to 3 hours.
You will meet with one of our ADHD clinicians, who may be a Consultant Psychiatrist or Clinical Psychologist.
They will take a full history with an emphasis on your developmental history and current difficulties with concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
They will also aim to speak to your informant, where possible.
- We are usually able to either make a diagnosis or rule out the possibility of ADHD at this assessment.
- We will discuss different approaches available to meet your needs, and if a diagnosis is given, treatment options will be discussed with you. We will also signpost you to appropriate services to meet any identified needs.
- We will produce a full report that will be shared with you, your GP and any other professionals working with you.
Stage 4: The treatment process
If a trial of ADHD medications is agreed, you will be offered regular appointments for prescribing medication and monitoring your response to this.
Once stabilised on your medication, we will ask your GP to continue to prescribe this going forwards and discharge you to their care.
If a decision is made between you and your clinician that medication is not advised, then we will discuss alternative interventions and support.
Sometimes, depending on staffing and resource, we are able to offer psychological intervention for those who are unlikely to benefit from medication.
Looking after yourself following a diagnosis
- Remember to look after yourself and make sure you have a good diet with regular meals. It is easy to become distracted and miss out on meals and getting a shower.
- Get a good sleep routine of going to bed at a regular time. Not getting enough sleep can make you more irritable and affect your concentration.
- Use your phone to create a list of things to do and reminders to do them and set yourself.
- Make a list and set yourself timers for each task.
- If you are in a meeting write down anything you are expected to do in a diary in case, you forget.
Seeking support with your symptoms at school, university or work
If you feel that another area of your life is being badly affected by your problems, e.g. work, then we would suggest that you contact your occupation health department as they may be able to offer support.
Students may wish to contact the Student Disability Service at their educational establishment.
Further information and support
Useful online resources for ADHD.
AADD UK
This is a website for, and created by, adults ADHD including information on University and College issues for students with ADHD.
Website: www.aadduk.org
ADDISS
National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service
Website: www.addiss.co.uk
Additude
An American website with a wealth of information about living with ADHD.
Website: www.additudemag.com
How to ADHD
A website and Youtube channel dedicated to helping people with ADHD live and work effectively.
Website: howtoadhd.com
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrist website with information on ADHD.
Website: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/adhd-in-adults
Russell Barkley
We recommend Russell Barkley’s educational videos on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/channel/UC0tLWu7ljYVFPiZQfHjTMsA
Our website
For further resources surrounding anxiety, sleep difficulties, emotional regulation and more, please see our website:
www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/oxon-adult-adhd/resources
Waiting list
Unfortunately, we are unable to give an accurate timescale of our waiting times at present.
All we can say is that there is a significant wait, and we are actively working to improve this situation.
Please be assured that we will be in touch with you as soon as we are able to arrange your appointment.
We are afraid we do not have the resources at present to respond to any queries about individual waiting times.
Thank you for your understanding.
Enquiries
We apologise if you are finding it difficult to contact us.
As we are a small service with excessive waiting lists, we are exclusively focusing our efforts on seeing patients at present.
From 5 February 2024, we are paused to new referrals and to new clinical enquiries (except from patients who are currently in active treatment with us).
We look forward to being a more responsive and accessible service in the future.
General guidance: Contact us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Trust Headquarters,
Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Sandford Road, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4XN
- Switchboard: 01865 901 000
- Email: enquiries@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
- Website: www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Become a member of our Foundation Trust: www.ohftnhs.uk/membership
Page last reviewed: 20 December, 2024