Call to resume West Cork adult ADHD assessments

No adult assessments for ADHD have been undertaken in West Cork or Kerry since August 2024, an answer to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has revealed.

Social Democrats councillor for West Cork, Isobel Towse, has requested that Cork County Council write to health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the HSE, requesting clarity on the status of adult ADHD assessments in the county.

Party leader Ms Cairns said that her office has heard from many people across Cork South-West who have been struggling with the uncertainty that has resulted from this matter.

“In 2024, a total of 41 adult ADHD assessments took place across the Kerry and West Cork Community Health Organisation, by far the lowest number for any of the community healthcare organisations nationally,” said Ms Cairns.

“While no assessments took place in the last four months of 2024, doctors have continued to try and refer patients into the service.

“The staffing issue needs urgent action. We cannot simply allow a service to cease when the funding is in place and the need is clearly there,” said Ms Cairns.

Ms Towse asked: “What is the minister and the HSE going to do to address the staff shortage to keep pace with referrals once it opens again?”

“I’d ask that anyone who over the past year was referred by their GP but denied an appointment due to the closure of this service would be informed when the service is open again, and asked if they want to go on the waiting list.”

Ms Towse also said that the adult ADHD assessment service in West Cork must be properly resourced to address waiting lists.

“ADHD is a disorder that affects people’s cognitive functioning, their relationships, mental wellbeing, and ability to perform at work.

“Without diagnosis and treatment, an awful lot of people are going around in a constant mental struggle of distractedness, disorganisation, and forgetfulness that can seriously impact their daily lives.

“Untreated, it can lead to things like substance misuse and depression, potentially leading to loss of employment and marital breakdown.”