A MOTHER has told how her 10-year-old son’s treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been reviewed for almost two years, when it should be checked every three months.

The woman said that without regular reviews it is impossible to tell how his body is coping with the medication. She said she was also waiting to have her younger son, who is six, tested for the condition after he displayed “challenging and aggressive” behaviours.

The 31-year-old – who The Sunday National is calling Amelia to preserve her children’s anonymity – lives in north-east Fife and her eldest boy was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of four before medics subsequently identified sensory processing disorder, anxiety and ADHD around two years later.

He now attends primary school – an additional needs unit with limited access to mainstream education.

“He has been on ADHD medication ever since his diagnosis,” she said. “Previously he was being reviewed by his paediatrician every six months, but with the ADHD medication, every three months by the ADHD clinic in Cupar.

“The medication he is on is called Elvanse … and among the main side effects are changes in his blood pressure, pulse, insomnia and weight loss.

“Frequent reviews are required to ensure these are all normal and he’s gaining weight. On these bases the drug can be continuously issued, but he was last seen in August 2019.”

Elvanse was first licensed for use in the UK around eight years ago and is said to improve activity in parts of the brain which are under-active. It can help improve attention and concentration, and reduce impulsive behaviour.

The drug is usually given as part of a wider treatment programme for ADHD.

Amelia said her son’s behaviour had become increasingly difficult to manage: “His ADHD without medication means that he can’t stay focused and perform well at school, he gets into trouble because he can’t control his actions and it is risky for him to be in a busy environment, especially if there is traffic nearby as his brain does not process all stimuli correctly.

“His behaviour can be erratic and often aggressive.

“Obviously without reviews on regular basis, we don’t know how his body is coping with the medication.”

Before last year’s Christmas break Amelia said she asked to change the boy’s medication to a 24-hour time-release type because he was having issues at school, but the dosage was not suitable for someone of his age.

“I’m not willing to increase the dose of the current medication without an appointment and even if I wanted to request a prescription with a higher dose of his current medication, I can’t. He needs to be seen first,” she said.

“I tried to get an appointment multiple times and was initially told it was due to Covid.

“I was then told that his doctor left and they’re looking for a replacement.

“I then phoned before the Christmas break hoping to change his medication and use that time as a transition period.”

HOWEVER, she said she had to contact them again as they did not get in touch with her: “The new doctor phoned me back at the beginning of January saying that they need to see him and get a report from school before they can change his meds.

“I was told that the appointments will be set ‘soon’ for all the children – that was four months ago.”

Amelia said the situation was no better for her six-year-old: “School has been trying to get him seen for months now trying every way and only now they’ve received a reply saying that he will be seen ‘soon’.

“We are also requesting that they start a diagnostic process for ADHD for him and asked for him to be seen by a psychologist because of his extremely challenging and aggressive behaviours both at home and at school.”

This is not the first time Fife’s most vulnerable children have been faced with lengthy waits for appointments with NHS Fife’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

Last September is was revealed that almost 60% of young mental health patients were waiting more than 18 weeks in the region – the highest waiting times for the service in more than a year.

“Throughout the pandemic, many services have had to work differently,” said a spokesperson for Fife Health and Social Care Partnership.

“Children and young people with ADHD have been reviewed by telephone or ‘near me’ appointments by either a community paediatrician or an ADHD nurse with support from a children’s psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. An ADHD support line was also set up.

“A community paediatrician has now been recruited in the Cupar area, however whilst there was a vacancy, processes were in place to provide support if needed.”

They added: “With any medication changes it is essential to monitor any medication side effects and it was recommended that during the pandemic there should be no change made to medications. We are now in the process of returning to more face-to-face consultations which will include medication reviews and we look forward to connecting with families to progress this.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As we have previously said, the Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely difficult, particularly for children and young people.

“In 2020 we provided an additional £15 million to local authorities to respond to children and young people’s mental health issues, with a focus on those brought about by the pandemic.

“The prescribing of medication and the management of cases is a matter for clinicians. We understand Fife Health and Social Care Partnership is liaising directly with the family to discuss their concerns.”

Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie said: “These delays are far too long. Managing these conditions is clearly taking its toll on the whole family but little help from the health board seems to be forthcoming. That must change. The next government needs to be one that will be quick out of the traps with a comprehensive NHS recovery plan.

“We also need to ensure that ADHD is taken more seriously at a national level, with support for GPs to prescribe more suitable treatment and management, especially on the transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult care.”