Programme to improve ADHD diagnosis pathway wins national award

The AHSN Network’s Focus ADHD Programme and Qbtech have won the Innovative Mental Health Intervention category at the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards 2022.

The judges were looking for innovation that supports individuals experiencing poor mental health and changes the status quo within the sector. The citation stated that they were impressed by ‘the way the programme is using technology to overcome a problem that has caused pain and suffering, difficulties, and delays for so many people - challenging those traditional pathways...', as well as ‘the evidence base of the differences the programme has made to waiting lists and diagnosis.'

About Focus ADHD

The AHSN Network’s Focus ADHD programme is in its final year of a three-year national programme. Almost 75,000 people (aged 6-18 years) have received an objective assessment for ADHD since Academic Health Science Networks began to support a digital innovation, QbTest, in 2017.

QbTest is an approved computer-supported objective test which measures attention, motor activity and impulsivity – the core symptoms of ADHD. The results are instantly analysed and presented in a report which compares a patient’s results against a normative dataset based on age and gender.

ADHD practitioners then use information from the QbTest report alongside their clinical assessment to inform their decision on whether the young person has ADHD or not.

Focus ADHD in Wessex

The Wessex AHSN Mental Health programme has been working with services across the region to support the implementation of the QbTest throughout CAMHS and paediatric services. We have collaborated with AHSN colleagues across the south east to co-host a community of practice, bringing together those working with a shared vision to improve the ADHD pathway. 

Sally Forbes, Programme Manager Mental Health, Wessex AHSN, said, “This award highlights the great partnership working that is evident across all 15 AHSNs, Qbtech and the service providers across the country. It is a privilege to be part of this project to improve the diagnostic journey for young people with suspected ADHD.” 

If you'd like to know more about Focus ADHD in Wessex or our mental health programme, please email Sally Forbes at sally.forbes@wessexahsn.net.