Health innovation networks support the sustaining of breakthrough ADHD diagnosis technology

In support of ADHD awareness month this October, Health Innovation Wessex is highlighting the impact of the innovation QbTest – an objective assessment tool to assist in the diagnosis of ADHD.  Between April 2020 – 2024, the implementation of this programme across England has helped the NHS to save over 95,000 hours of clinical time, saving the NHS an estimated £38.5M.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates the global prevalence of ADHD in children to be around 5% (1 in 20). Undiagnosed and/or untreated ADHD can have a significant impact on personal development, academic outcomes and family interaction.  Additional mental health problems related to poor management of ADHD can include depression, anxiety, sleep and eating disorders.

Following a successful randomised control trial by the NIHR East Midlands CLAHRC (now the East Midlands ARC), our colleagues at Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM) piloted the use of QbTest within three NHS mental health trusts. This CLAHRC and HIEM collaboration provided the evidence base for a national programme called Focus ADHD, which was rolled out across England between 2020 and 2023 by the health innovation networks.

The innovative tool measures the three core indicators of ADHD - attention, impulsivity and motor activity – and when used to supplement clinical assessment can significantly reduce the time to diagnosis, freeing up clinical time and saving money. 

Three quarters of all NHS trusts that provide ADHD services have adopted the innovation and between April 2020 – March 2024 more than 71,000 children and young people benefited, around 95,000 hours of clinical capacity were released and an estimated £38.5M of cost savings were achieved for the NHS.

In July 2024, NICE recommended the use of the QbTest to help diagnose ADHD in children and young people.

Nicola Bent, Chief Executive at Health Innovation Wessex said: "The legacy of this programme speaks for itself. I’m proud that we have supported this innovation and that it is helping so many children and young people receive an accurate and objective diagnosis for ADHD. 

What is so pivotal is although the formal national programme has ended, the impacts continue to be sustained and continue to accelerate. We can see the evidence that since hospital trusts have adopted it has become ‘business as usual’ and has transformed how they deliver care for ADHD.

Since our formal involvement ended in March 2023, two Wessex trusts, across 10 sites, provided the assessment that has helped 1,733 patients. Nationally, a further 10 trusts adopted QbTest during 2024 benefiting over 15,000 more children and young people.”

In October 2023, the national network published "A Guide to Innovation, Implementation, Readiness, and Resourcing", offering practical insights for healthcare organisations aiming to integrate cutting-edge technologies like the QbTest. This guide serves as a valuable resource for spreading and sustaining healthcare innovations across the NHS.

Visual of the ongoing implementation of the objective ADHD tool across England. 

See the local impact of the Focus ADHD programme in the Wessex region