Dr. Sonia Morris:

The situation is not unique to ADHD; it is neurodivergence more generally across Ireland. We do not tend to develop national assessment protocols for all clinicians to follow. Subspecialties and subdisciplines will develop their own policies. For example, the Psychological Society of Ireland, PSI, is currently developing ADHD assessment guidelines, but they will only apply to the psychologists under the society's remit and they are guidelines, so it will not be compulsory to follow them. At the moment, anybody can assess for ADHD. There is nobody out there to stop people assessing patients, even if they are not qualified to do so. How assessments for ADHD are conducted will vary from clinician to clinician. It will also vary within the public system. There are different practices across CAMHS teams, even within Lucena, despite the fact that we are under the same umbrella at the moment. There is no standardisation of practice because it is determined by the team itself and, more likely, the consultant who is heading up that team and his or her own preferences for assessment. These things are also dictated by the demand that is placed on the service and the pressure for these assessments to be done quickly to get children off the wait list. Without national guidance, the temptation is to have substandard assessments, especially within the private sector.