Dear ________,

RE: REPRESENTING THE NEEDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS 

MY FULL NAME: _______________
MY ADDRESS (inc POSTCODE): ______________

On the 6th February 2023, there is a debate scheduled to happen at 4.30pm in WESTMINSTER HALL.  The debate is focussed on the need to increase funding and patient access to Autism and ADHD assessments.

Firstly, I would hope that, as my MP, you will represent me and many other constituents by attending. Secondly I sincerely hope you would support the vital need to increase funding  and change the current shocking waiting times for ADHD assessments.  Autism now has a national strategy and has received some Government focus, but ADHD has not received any such focus.  The services for ADHD diagnosis and treatment have been reduced across the UK and many health trusts no longer even offer assessments.

* Currently, the system is not working in several obvious ways:
The current waiting times are between 2 and 7 years from GP referral to assessment (with no support between referral and assessment)

* Numerous health trusts have abandoned adult ASD and ADHD assessments and written to their patients (pardon the pun) suggesting they begin a “right to choose” pathway and use alternative regional trusts for their assessments

* Many of the health trusts in Wales and Northern Ireland are no longer offering Adult ADHD assessment. Many trusts in the UK are also ceasing any ADHD (and often ASD/ADHD diagnostic assessment provision)

Most adults who feel it necessary to approach a GP for a diagnosis will usually be experiencing acute or critical symptoms in their lives.  And, after the GP referral, if the patients are “lucky”, they will receive a letter informing them of a wait of between 2 to 7 years.  If unlucky, they will discover that these assessments no longer exist in their health trust.  If even unluckier still, they may discover several months or years into their wait for diagnosis, that their health trust has decided to close their assessment routes, and that the patient now must begin again using a “right to choose” application.

The word “patient” seems increasingly inappropriate vocabulary.

Compared to neurotypical people and to undiagnosed adults with ASD, adults with undiagnosed ADHD are statistically at much higher risk of:
divorce
unemployment
addiction 
criminal convictions
car accidents
financial chaos
alcoholism
debt 
suicide.

If diagnosed, a patient can learn to self-manage their neuro-diversity and with the support of friends and family, they have a very high chance of avoiding most if not all of these damaging life events.

There are estimated 180,000 diagnosed adults with ADHD.  Conservative estimates suggest between 2 and 4 million adults in the UK have ADHD.  That is a massive failure in diagnoses.   And there are thousands of instances of divorce, criminal conviction, addiction, debt, alcoholism, unemployment and suicide that are happening every year because of the government’s inaction in addressing this issue.

It is clear. Morally, financially and in human terms, the cost of inaction for us all is far greater than the cost of action. 

I hope I can count on your support to represent me and many people like me in your constinuency, by attending this debate and by assuring us you will support and argue for immediate and effective change to the current neglect of ADHD (a disability which should be protected under the Equality Act).

Thank you.  I look forward to your reply.