In recent days, you will no doubt have seen the reported scandal involving online ADHD diagnosis at three private clinics. Whilst this has nothing to do with our business, we feel it’s important to comment and help to shed light on the matter, for the sake of our patients and clinicians, and anyone else who may have been shocked by the initial angle of the report.
The clinics in question have been accused of over-diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medication without proper evaluation. At the Purple House Clinic, we are committed to providing assessments and therapies of the highest standards and we do not condone or seek to excuse any service providing inadequate care. However, concerns have been raised by a number of patient-led groups, such as The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity, about the impartiality of the programme, particularly given that they, and other NGOs were not included in the conversation and research. Their disappointment centred around this and four other major points.
- The programme fails to capture the historic inequality of access to health services and lack of priority given to patients with ADHD.
- The programme does not make effort to fully represent the private sector.
- The programme misrepresents the patient experience.
- The programme failed to highlight that NHS, like most private providers, offer medication only.
