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Case ref:202001237
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Date:January 2021
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Body:Lanarkshire NHS Board
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Not upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:clinical treatment / diagnosis
Summary
C has an adopted child who has a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A's behaviour is so challenging that both parents fear A will cause serious harm to themselves or to them.
C wished A to be prescribed medication for their ADHD, but Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) said that they required to carry out a face-to-face assessment before medication could be prescribed. They said they were unable to offer this at present because of COVID-19 restrictions. C considered that A needed urgent input, but the board said that A's need was not considered urgent. The board said that they would see A as soon as they were able to. C complained that the board had failed to assess A's need for CAMHS treatment as urgent.
We took independent advice from a consultant child and adolescent psychologist. We considered that A's need for treatment had been appropriately assessed with reference to COVID-related criteria. We did not uphold C's complaint.
We were, however, critical of the delays in assessment of A's condition and commented that, were it not for these delays, A should by now have had the opportunity of psychiatric review and clinical treatment.