A health trust is investigating claims a child psychiatrist may have charged patients for NHS appointments.

It has also launched a review into the work of the consultant paediatrician following complaints from parents over assessments for ADHD and autism.

Dozens of parents of children with ADHD and autism say they are in limbo after the doctor ceased seeing clients privately.

Dr Anish Anish, who used to work for the Northern Health Trust, has strongly denied the allegation that he charged for NHS appointments. He said he was currently unwell and was unable to meet with parents as he would like to.

The families affected used the private service because of a huge waiting list for children to be assessed and treated on the NHS.

Some parents paid thousands of pounds for consultations with Dr Anish but say they have been left “distressed and upset” with no follow-up care or medication.

Dr Anish said he wanted to meet the parents who have made complaints about him and to apologise to them.

One parent has alleged that she paid £850 for a consultation for what was in fact a free health service appointment at Antrim Area Hospital.

The Northern Trust says it is helping parents who have been affected.

It is understood its review is in relation to several dozen patients, with 18 cases reviewed to date.

Dr Anish ran the private service ADHD/ASD Doctor, which appears not to be currently operating.

Many parents used the company’s website to use the service, but say it is not functioning at present.

As well as private work, the doctor carried out NHS work at the Northern Health Trust, but has subsequently left the trust.

Several parents have told the BBC that they are still waiting for documentation relating to private clinical assessments or confirmation of an ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or ASD (autism spectrum disorder) diagnosis for their child.

Without these, parents say they cannot move on and may have to start the process all over again by finding another private provider.

Many of the parents say they have paid around £850 for a diagnosis for their child, but have received just a verbal confirmation of an ADHD or ASD diagnosis. Some parents have paid to have several of their children assessed.

One parent, Sarah Herfield, said her nine-year-old son was prescribed medication after being assessed privately by Dr Anish.

She was under a shared-care agreement with her GP, receiving her son’s medication from their GP through a script issued by Dr Anish.

She said this became an issue when Dr Anish closed his clinic and ceased contact with many of his patients in December 2024.

Ms Herfield had not received any documentation for her son’s diagnosis so was unable to get a prescription issued elsewhere, leaving him without any medication.

She said that after contacting the Department of Health, it apologised but said it was unable to become involved in the situation as it was under private healthcare.

Another parent the BBC has spoken to said two of her children were seen by Dr Anish for ADHD and ASD assessments.

She said one of her children had an NHS appointment in Antrim Area Hospital with Dr Anish, yet was charged £850 for this ADHD assessment.

Her child, aged eight at the time, was prescribed medication for ADHD at this appointment and was not scheduled to be seen again by Dr Anish for another six months.

A number of families affected are from the Republic of Ireland.

Many parents have taken to social media platforms to be highly critical of the lack of service they have received from Dr Anish.

Dr Anish remains registered with the General Medical Council.

The Northern Health Trust said: “Dr Anish is no longer employed by the Northern Trust.

“Having received a number of complaints from parents whose children were under Dr Anish’s care while he was working for the trust, we have begun a retrospective case note review of patients who were seen by Dr Anish within the trust’s paediatric service during a nine-week period at the end of last year.

“This review is being conducted at pace and is ongoing. The outcome will determine what, if any, further action is required by the trust.”

It said it was in contact with a number of families within the Northern Trust area whose children have been under the care of Dr Anish to ensure they received the appropriate care and support.

“We recognise that this situation has caused significant distress and anxiety for families, and we sincerely apologise for that,” the trust said.

“With regards to any claim that patients have been charged for NHS appointments, this is something we are taking very seriously and we are looking into this.”

The BBC has contacted the solicitors’ firm Dr Anish said was representing him on several occasions, but received no response.