Why ADHD Matters

At its best, ADHD is associated with lateral thinking, creativity, innovation, high energy and drive.

At its worst, ADHD can have a significant negative effect on relationships, schoolwork and performance at work. As childhood is time-limited, a schoolchild who cannot fully access the curriculum is at risk of not achieving their potential, which can be miserable and stressful for them and their families and also lead to other negative health and social consequences.
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The ADHD foundation estimates that around five percent of the UK population have ADHD. ADHD is the most successfully treatable condition in Psychiatry and Neurodiversity.
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The majority of accurately diagnosed patients respond well to medication. The medication has been available for many years (initial case reports of early formulations of stimulants reported nearly 100 years ago) and we now have sophisticated options to help optimise individual treatment.
In patients with treatment-resistant mood disorders, the rate of underlying neurodiversity is extremely high. Correct diagnosis of this cohort leads to more effective treatment.

What we are doing about it

We aim to provide a high quality independent service to the population of greater Cambridge and the University of Cambridge via this multidisciplinary clinic offering "best practice" care.

We also see the massive discrepancy between trained clinicians and untreated patients and have a plan to expand the available workforce. There is a need to train the next generation of GPs to embrace ADHD, to move towards normalising the natural place for the management of uncomplicated ADHD in primary care.

Who is involved? Who can manage ADHD?

Some people erroneously assume that the competence to manage ADHD is placed exclusively in the domain of Psychiatry and Psychiatrists.
As the mainstay of treatment is medication, the workforce who prescribe for ADHD excludes Psychologists but includes Psychiatrists, Specialist Nurses with prescribing qualifications or appropriately qualified GPs.

It seems clear that in a generation, a significant proportion of ADHD will be managed in primary care.

Whilst historically most competent clinicians have been Psychiatrists, not all Psychiatrists are trained to manage ADHD. The trained workforce who diagnose ADHD in the UK includes Psychiatrists, Specialist Nurses, Psychologists and a handful of GPs.

Our mission regarding the workforce

The Cambridge ADHD Centre has been founded by two clinicians with long experience of medical education and mentoring and we intend not just to attract great staff but also to help them strive for excellence. We are creating a way to support GP colleagues who are interested in undertaking portfolio work in ADHD to complement their NHS General Practice. By supporting GPs who work in the NHS we hope to nurture foci of interest and competence in GP practices, to accelerate and normalise the ability to manage uncomplicated ADHD in NHS General Practice.

Our mission regarding individual patients

The aim of this service is to assess and treat patients until stable and then offer transfer to shared care with NHS GPs.
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(Of course, we can offer long term private direct care for those who choose it.)

The medication to treat ADHD is currently expensive and although it adds a lot of value, we believe it is unreasonable to expect patients who have taken the initiative to get themselves diagnosed and treated in the private sector to be compelled to continue in the private sector long term.

The Cambridge ADHD Centre aims to use the opportunity of discharging every successfully treated patient to spread the word about how satisfying it is to treat ADHD and to support GP Practices in caring for the patient by offering ongoing opportunity for professional liaison.

What motivates us

ADHD and the impact it can have when untreated is most easily understood by those who have lived with it. Some of us have ADHD in the family. This motivates us to improve the care of the patient in front of us and to improve the services for all patients.

Want to join us?

If you are a clinician with an interest in ADHD who would like to explore further collaborative working, please make contact via info@camadhd.co.uk