Why are we protesting
Some GP surgeries in Northern Ireland are refusing to continue ADHD prescriptions if a private medical consultant first prescribed them. This means neurodivergent people, many of whom turned to private care because the NHS wait was too long, are now being told:
“You’ll have to pay for that medication yourself.”
It’s the same diagnosis. The same treatment. The same prescription. And now, some have to pay hundreds of pounds per month, while others receive it for free.
This is how a two-tier system begins:
- One tier for people who could wait.
- Another for people who couldn’t afford to.
Fund ADHD Services Now !!!!
And let’s be clear
Most of us didn’t go private because we wanted to. We went private because we had no choice. This isn’t just red tape, this is health inequality and cruel! And it’s hitting people who are already managing more than most: parents, students, caregivers, and individuals trying to stay regulated enough to show up for life.
So what now
So what now? We speak up. Loudly. Together. Because if we don’t, this becomes the new normal. And it shouldn’t be
This protest is a stand for justice, dignity, and survival!
Significant health inequality
The crisis in adult ADHD services highlights a significant inequality: lengthy waiting lists that stretch for years, a lack of consistent support after diagnosis, and the overwhelming emotional and financial strain of seeking private care, often just to find someone willing to listen.
These systems are hurting us
We are exhausted from navigating a system that was never built with us in mind. We've had enough!
We need your help
But we are not alone. We must demand structural change. We’re calling on our allies, the media, and the broader public to amplify this campaign and stand in solidarity with us.
This protest is a stand for justice, dignity, and survival!
You might be one of them!
✔Parents managing homes, work, and care
✔ Students trying to stay focused in class
✔ Adults holding down jobs while struggling to self-regulate
✔ People who have finally been diagnosed but are told it still isn’t enough
✔ Adults holding down jobs while struggling to self-regulate
If you’ve had to go private, you shouldn’t be punished for it.
Context- ADHD in Northern Ireland: KEY FACTS
Key Facts:
Diagnosis and Service Provision
- No commissioned adult ADHD services in NI; any provision is ad hoc and varies by Trust.
- Longest wait for adult ADHD assessment: 8 years (Belfast Trust); for children: 5 years.
- GPs frequently refuse to provide shared care for privately diagnosed patients, leaving many unable to access medication.
- NI does not have the “Right to Choose” scheme (as in England), so NHS-funded private assessments are not available.
Key Facts:
Impacts Across the Lifespan
Health and Life Expectancy:
- Adults with ADHD in NI live 7–9 years less than neurotypical peers, primarily due to unmet needs and untreated co-occurring conditions
- Lack of support leads to higher rates of mental health crises, suicide, and preventable physical health issues
Education:
- Children with ADHD and autism are often misunderstood and excluded from mainstream education
- Families face financial hardship, often paying £12,000–£15,000 for private assessments and support
- School exclusion and lack of support contribute to poor educational outcomes and early school leaving.
Employment:
- Neurodivergent adults face stigma and rigid workplace systems, limiting their ability to contribute and thrive
- Only a small proportion of autistic and ADHD adults are in full-time employment, compared to the general population.
Family and Social Impact:
- Parents and carers experience stress, burnout, and financial strain due to fragmented systems and lack of guidance
- The absence of timely diagnosis and aftercare increases the risk of poverty, social exclusion, and poor mental health.
Key Facts
NI Social and Economic Costs
Direct Costs:
- Families pay thousands for private assessments and ongoing care.
- Untreated ADHD and autism result in higher rates of emergency healthcare use, school exclusion, and unemployment.
Economic Burden:
- Untreated ADHD costs NI hundreds of millions annually in lost productivity, increased healthcare use, and social care needs.
Cost of Proper Provision:
- Early intervention and comprehensive support are proven to reduce long-term costs by improving educational, health, and employment outcomes.
- Investing in neurodiversity support is cost-effective compared to the ongoing social and economic burden of neglect.
Key Facts
Executive & Public Funding Failures
Policy Gaps:
- No commissioned adult ADHD service exists, despite clear evidence of need and NICE guidelines.
- There is a postcode lottery for both autism and ADHD services, with some Trusts unable to comply with best practice.
Misallocation of Public Money:
- Significant public funds are spent on crisis interventions, special educational needs tribunals, and emergency healthcare, rather than on early and preventative support.
- Funding often benefits private providers and those who can afford to pay, reinforcing inequality between rich and working-class families.
- There is little evidence of executive action to reallocate funds from less effective or regressive public spending (e.g., business subsidies, high-cost consultancy, or policing) to neurodiversity support.
Like many Spark members, Trish got a letter. Shared care is over. And she has 3 months to find a paid alternative. Who is next?
Member's Voice
READ WHAT TRISH HAS TO SAY
Why I’m Protesting
“I’m being denied essential ADHD medication—not because I don’t need it, not because it’s unsafe, but because I got my diagnosis privately.
My GP surgery has refused to continue my prescription because it didn’t start within the NHS.
It doesn’t matter that my consultant is fully qualified in Northern Ireland. It doesn’t matter that I’ve followed every rule.
I was simply told: ‘That’s not our problem—pay for it yourself.’
That means hundreds of pounds a month, on top of the cost of living, just to stay well.
I’ve already had to stop treatment because I couldn’t afford it.
I’ve started skipping doses to make my prescription last.
And the result?
More mental health crises.
More instability.
More suffering—completely avoidable.
I didn’t choose private care because it was convenient.
I chose it because the NHS wait was unmanageableoften years.
I was forced to pay to get help. Now I’m being punished for it.
This isn’t about policy. It’s about people.
It’s about children and young people falling behind in school.
It’s about parents breaking under pressure.
It’s about workers like me struggling to hold on to jobs.
It’s about lives quietly unravelling because the system has decided who is and isn’t worth supporting.
Healthcare bias towards neurodivergence is real.
Healthcare bias towards ADHD medication is real.
ADHD medication isn’t experimental. It’s one of the most thoroughly researched and well-established treatments in psychiatry.
Stimulant medications like methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine have been used safely for over 60 years. They’re backed by hundreds of clinical trials.
They are among the most effective and evidence-based treatments in child and adult mental health.
A 2023 systematic review in The Lancet Psychiatry confirmed their safety and effectiveness across age groups.
The NICE guidelines in the UK recommend them as first-line treatment for ADHD because of their strong benefit-to-risk ratio.
Long-term data shows they reduce accident risk, school exclusion, and criminal justice involvement – especially when access isn’t interrupted.
This isn’t just medication.
This is lifeline treatment.
Removing access isn’t a clinical decision, it’s a political one.
Healthcare isn’t a reward. It’s a human right!
And right now, that right is being denied to people like me, people already fighting just to function.
That’s why I’m here.
That’s why I’m raising my voice.
Because if we stay silent, this injustice will spread and more lives will be pushed to the edge.”
Here’s what we’re demanding
Full service provision
Immediate commissioning and funding of adult ADHD services in every Health Trust.
Equal access
End the postcode lottery – ensure equal access to diagnosis and treatment across Northern Ireland.
Shared care
GPs must follow NICE guidelines and accept Shared Care agreements for privately diagnosed patients.
Right to Choose
Introduce a 'Right to Choose' scheme for ADHD assessments, as already exists in England
Stigma and discrimination
End the stigma and discrimination faced by neurodivergent people across healthcare, education, and employment
Take Action
Download the advocacy pack Includes letters you can send to the Health Minister, PCC, and others
- Download the advocacy pack
Includes letters you can send to the Health Minister, PCC, and others Share the protest details
Share this page. The more people who show up, the louder we are- When and where
Cobbled area, Belfast City Hall, Saturday 28 June 2025, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Tell your story
Post it. Bring it with you. Email voice@neurodiversityspark.com
Protest countdown
Meet the team who help make these things happen
Neurodiversity Spark:
Community Awareness Advocates
They’re not volunteers or staff – they’re local changemakers, using their stories, networks and skills to challenge inequality, speak truth to power, and influence how neurodivergence is supported in Northern Ireland.
As advocates for SPARK’s mission, they engage in crucial work: building awareness, meeting with key stakeholders, responding to policy changes, and speaking publicly. Their efforts across sectors are instrumental in securing better access to services, clearer support pathways, and a future where lived experience is paramount.
Protest details
Where: Cobbled area, Belfast City Hall
When: Saturday 28 June 2025
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Bring yourself. Bring others. Be heard.
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