Debate contribution: ADHD Services

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Chambers on 9 February 2026.

MLA: Mr Alan Chambers
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 9 February 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: ADHD Services
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5369707

Text

The motion addresses an issue that has been coming through our constituency offices with increasing regularity. ADHD has long existed, but what has changed in recent years is the awareness of unmet need that individuals and families experience. Adults tell us of years spent trying to understand their difficulties without a clear route to assessment or support. Parents tell us of concerns about their children that are raised early and repeatedly yet met with delay, uncertainty or unclear pathways. That uncertainty has real consequences for education, employment and overall well-being. Members are right to highlight the fact that current provision is inconsistent. Access to assessment and follow-up support can depend on where someone lives, their age or how their needs present.
I acknowledge the fact that the Minister has been clear, from the outset of his tenure, on the need to reduce unwarranted variation across health and social care trusts. In that context, the call for a regional approach to ADHD diagnosis and treatment is logical and entirely consistent with the wider reform agenda that the Minister has set out. Having a regional service would improve fairness, provide greater consistency for clinicians and offer clearer expectations for parents and families. Importantly, it would also support better planning of workforce and resources, rather than a reliance on piecemeal or reactive arrangements.
It is equally important to recognise that ADHD rarely exists in isolation. Some individuals with ADHD experience other needs or challenges. Where services operate in silos, people can be moved between teams or, as happens all too often, fall between them. That is why a model that integrates ADHD into broader mental health services is essential if support is to be effective rather than fragmented. For children and young people in particular, delay carries long-term risks. That is why awareness, early intervention and joined-up working matters so much. At the same time, it is right to be realistic about the context in which decisions must be made. Our Health and Social Care system is under unprecedented pressure in terms of budgets and future needs. The Minister has been upfront about the financial and workforce constraints that the Department faces. Progress on ADHD services must, therefore, be evidence-based, phased and sustainable. That is why the Minister's decision last year to commission the review — for the first time ever — was so important. Exploring with our health trusts practical options that are informed by data and front-line experience is the responsible way forward, and improving awareness of ADHD across government, education and the workplace is a vital part of the solution. Better understanding and reasonable adjustments can make a significant difference to outcomes, often without significant cost. There are no quick fixes here, but I welcome the clear direction that the Minister has taken in recognising the need, building the evidence base and engaging constructively with the issue. That recognition is the foundation on which meaningful and lasting progress can be built. I am happy to support the motion and the amendment.

501 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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