Almost 4,000 prescriptions for ADHD medication were issued by private clinics to people in Northern Ireland last year, up from just six in 2019.

Figures obtained by BBC News NI, from the HSC Business Services Organisation (BSO) show almost half of those prescriptions in 2024 were supplied by clinics based elsewhere in the UK.

And although the NHS still prescribes a much higher quantity of ADHD medication, private prescribing is rising at a faster rate.

It comes as people say they are going private to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists, which the Department of Health (DoH) says is unacceptable.

Keith Lawrence, a network engineer who lives in Lisburn, said he first recognised symptoms of ADHD in himself while his son was undergoing an assessment for the condition.

Children in Northern Ireland can face waits of several years for an ADHD assessment, while no adult services are commissioned.

Mr Lawrence said he faced a five year wait through the NHS, but when he checked two years later, this increased to between seven and 10 years.

“I always knew there was the option of going private for this kind of diagnosis and treatment, but I kind of always had the hope that the NHS would be able to provide something for me, and I wouldn’t have to do that,” he said.

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neuro-developmental condition which often causes impulsiveness and inattention.

It has traditionally been associated with children, but more adults across the UK are now being diagnosed.

Recent research suggests ADHD prevalence has not increased, but greater awareness means more people are seeking help and diagnosis.

In Northern Ireland, long NHS waits and the lack of adult ADHD services may help explain why private prescriptions are rising.

Unable to access a local service, Mr Lawrence went to an online private clinic in England, which diagnosed him with inattentive ADHD in September and prescribed medication.

He said the process involved detailed questionnaires, a full video assessment and background information from his mother about his childhood, and did not appear to be “slap-dash”.

He was prescribed methylphenidate, the most commonly prescribed drug for treating ADHD.

Private prescriptions can cost between £15 and £130 per month, depending on the drug.

Data obtained from the BSO via a freedom of information request show private prescriptions for methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine rose from six in 2019 to 3,978 in 2024.

While GB clinics supplied the majority of those prescriptions from 2020 on, that changed in 2024 when NI clinics accounted for 53%.

And although private prescribing is rising at a faster rate, the NHS still issues far more ADHD medication overall – with 89,128 prescriptions issued last year.

That means about 5% of prescriptions for ADHD medication in Northern Ireland in 2024, were issued privately.

Mr Lawrence said his medication and prescribing fees cost about £100 a month, with additional six-monthly review appointments costing £200.

“It has been life changing. The medication has so many benefits,” he said.

“Up until now, I’ve been coping and managing my symptoms. I finally feel that I’m actually living my life.”

He asked his GP to take over prescribing through a shared care agreement, but the request was rejected.

Shared care is a formal arrangement in which a specialist starts treatment and a GP takes over ongoing prescribing.

Dr Frances O’Hagan, chair of the BMA NI GP committee, said DoH advice to GPs is that patients who seek private diagnosis or treatment should have no expectation that the NHS will take over responsibility for their care.

“Even if it is on the NHS, GPs have the right, if they feel it’s outside their area of expertise, to say: ‘No, I don’t wish to prescribe that as shared care’,” she said.

The DoH said GPs may have concerns about the robustness of assessments by private providers.

Dr O’Hagan added ADHD assessments on the NHS are typically detailed and face-to-face, and said the same standard should apply in the private sector.

On its website, the BMA said shared care with private providers is not recommended.

Dr O’Hagan said shared care requires ongoing specialist oversight and that, in the absence of NHS adult ADHD services, there is no NHS specialist clinician for GPs to share responsibility with.

Katie Graden-Tyson, a social work assistant from Belfast, said she views medication as a last resort but is struggling to cope without support.

“I’ve heard so many good reports about medication, that it just helps to quieten your brain a little bit so you can focus and manage a bit better,” she said.

Ms Graden-Tyson, who has not yet got a formal diagnosis, said she would have to make sacrifices to afford private care after being told the NHS wait could be about 10 years.

A DoH spokesperson said: “Waiting times for a diagnosis of ADHD are lengthy and growing for children, young people and adults across Northern Ireland.

“This is unacceptable and the department is taking a number of actions to improve the situation.”

The DoH said a report will be published next year to determine the level of demand for an ADHD commissioned service.