Written question WQ95602
- Asked by
- James EvansConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What action is the Welsh Government taking to address the unmet support and treatment needs of adults diagnosed with ADHD considering research by the British Journal of Psychiatry highlighting that adults with an ADHD diagnosis have a life expectancy of around 7-9 years shorter compared with the general population?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Welsh Government continues to work with partners to support adults diagnosed with ADHD.
In recent years, the increased demand for support around neurodivergence conditions has placed strain on services across Wales.
Through the Neurodivergence Improvement Programme we are directly addressing these challenges, and the Neurodivergence Ministerial Advisory Group continues to provide expert advice. Funding has been made available through this programme to ensure more resources are available for diagnosis, treatment and support.
The Welsh Government funds the National Neurodivergence Team, which has expanded its remit from autism to the wider neurodivergence spectrum, with a much stronger emphasis on resource development in relation to ADHD to help support individuals, professionals and organisations.
We are also working to improve the prescribing of medication, including shared care arrangements with GPs, to develop national standard pathways and to ensure services are consistent across Wales.
The building blocks of health include fair work, good education, adequate housing, and social connections. Improving health and decreasing health inequalities needs a whole system response with the health service playing an important role. Actions to address health inequalities are embedded across all activity owing to the strategic planning required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and through our health in all policies approach.
This is further supported through strong legislation such as the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act, the Planning (Wales) Act, the Environment (Wales) Act, the Public Health (Wales) Act and Socio-economic Duty.
We support many projects and initiatives which aim to reduce inequalities in health and social care provision. Further support to improve access to health care ranges from free prescriptions, free transport for those who are eligible, and free car parking at all hospital sites for patients, visitors and NHS staff.