Introduce an Act of Parliament supporting ADHD adults and children (ADHD Act)

The charity ADHD Action calls upon the UK Government to pass an Act of Parliament that will broadly: 1) Place a duty on the Government to produce a broad strategy for ADHD adults and children which is kept under regular review. 2) A duty to produce statutory guidance to ensure implementation.

There are currently many challenges to the UK ADHD community, which affects approximately 5% of children and 2.5% of adults. Changes in areas below will ensure significant cost savings to public services, and improve quality of countless lives: Education Health (including mental, sexual and addiction support) Criminal justice (police, prisons, probation) Work, pensions and benefits Employment law Local authorities (e.g. social services, homelessness) Media (responsible reporting)

adhdaction.org

The Government is committed to supporting children, young people and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and improving their quality of life. We recognise the importance for people with ADHD of receiving a timely diagnosis and appropriate support. Current legislation and guidelines set out how services should support people of all ages with ADHD.

In 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a guideline on diagnosing and managing ADHD for people aged 3 and above. This aims to improve the diagnosis of ADHD as well as the quality of care and support for people with an ADHD diagnosis. An updated guideline is expected to be published in February 2018.

The Care Act 2014 represents the most comprehensive reform of social care legislation in over 60 years. The Act puts in place requirements for local authorities to meet a person’s eligible care and support needs, including those of people with ADHD, and to help and protect people with care and support needs, who may be at risk of abuse or neglect as a result of those needs.

The Government recognises that children and young people with ADHD often need special educational provision and under the Children and Families Act (2014), local authorities, health and care services must commission services jointly to ensure the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are met. Local Authorities must publish a clear outline of services available which has been developed for, and with, parents and young people.