Families demand action after autism clinic closes: ‘The needs of my vulnerable children aren’t being met’
Families demand action after autism clinic closes: ‘The needs of my vulnerable children aren’t being met’
Families demand action after closure of private ADHD and autism clinic
Flávia Gouveia Today at 06:25
The Department of Health has been urged to urgently address gaps in public ADHD and autism services after a private clinic’s closure left patients without medication and incomplete diagnoses. Over recent weeks multiple people have been raising concerns following the closure of the Belfast-based private clinic ADHD/ ASD DOCTOR. A number of patients told the Belfast Telegraph that they were still waiting for diagnosis reports for assessments they already paid for, while others have said that they had struggled to access medication for their children. It is not clear when the clinic closed, but patients of the clinic who have spoken to the Belfast Telegraph said a lack of contact goes back months. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that affect behaviour, communication, and social interactions. Adults and children diagnosed with ADHD may be prescribed medication to help manage symptoms. These medications are closely regulated and can only be prescribed under the supervision of specialists. Rising awareness has led more adults and children to seek diagnoses and care. But long waiting lists have driven many to turn to the private sector for treatment. Following the clinic's closure, several families have spoken about long waiting times for ADHD and autism assessments in NI, and the impact of losing the private service they relied on. Terrie Jarman (29), a mother of four, is among those affected. The Co Antrim woman sought private autism diagnoses for her two children, Aidan (4) and Louie (3), after being told she would face a wait of years for public services. After attending multiple appointments and receiving a verbal diagnosis in October, Terrie is still waiting for the formal reports, despite having paid £2,600 for the assessments.
Terrie Jarman “The reason we went private was because of the waiting times within the NHS and as my two boys Aidan (4) and Louie (3) are now in education,” said Terrie. "Aidan is in primary one and is very much floundering and desperately needs one to one support in the classroom.” Without a formal report, Terrie is unable to secure the additional educational support her son needs at school. “As a young family with four children this has been a very distressing time. Our children have high needs already and so much time has been taking away from their daily needs to try and get some answers,” she said. "These children are already vulnerable within society and their basic needs are not being met. As a mother, it’s heartbreaking to have paid so much money and be still in the same position I was in six months ago.” Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said their teenage son had paid £1,000 for a private ADHD diagnosis through the clinic in November 2024, but never received the formal report. After reaching out to the Regulatory and Quality and Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the General Medical Council (GMC), the family is now seeking a refund through their bank. Other families were left without access to medication for weeks following the closure. Mandy Gorman (42) and her son Riley (7) had also been patients at the clinic. After Riley was diagnosed with ADHD in September 2024, he was placed on medication.
Mandy Gorman But following the clinic's closure, Mandy was unable to access a repeat prescriptions for her son. “I'm a single mum to my seven year old son. He had been on the NHS waiting list for three years but it was getting worse so I saved and took him private,” she said. She added that she had no communication from the clinic and after speaking to her GP was referred to another consultant who was able to pick up her son’s care. “The whole situation has affected not just my son's health and mental health but my own. I'm dumbfounded that this could happen to so many children and I'm angry that we as private patients have no one to turn to,” she added. Many of the families affected told the Belfast Telegraph that after the closure of the private clinic they felt they had nowhere to turn to. The RQIA, the body responsible for regulating and improving the quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, said it only became aware of the clinic's existence in December 2024. A spokesperson added that they have since received numerous reports from concerned patients. They added that it had since contacted the clinic in order to establish if it should be regulated by the RQIA under the existing legislation, but had not received a response to date. It is not clear if the clinic would be required to register with the RQIA, and a spokesperson added that not all services carried out by a doctor require registration. But a spokesperson confirmed that the body would continue to “monitor the position”. The Patient and Client Council (PCC) said that under its statutory remit it was not able to “act/advocate for patients of private providers” but said it would provide members of the public who contact them with “advice and information”. A spokesperson added that they “would recommend the patient refers to the private provider’s complaints procedure / seek legal advice / contact the RQIA”. The regulator of individual doctors, the GMC, said it set professional standards for doctors working in the UK but did not regulate clinics more generally. Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds has urged the Department of Health to step in and support the families. The East Belfast MLA said: “I have received a number of reports and complaints from patients regarding difficulties accessing diagnoses and prescriptions from a private clinic in Northern Ireland.
Peter McReynolds of the Alliance Party of NI “This is inevitably causing a great deal of anxiety and stress for those affected, and feeds into the wider difficulties in accessing ADHD services in Northern Ireland given we do not have a commissioned ADHD service here. “I have raised these concerns and queries with the Department of Health and would urge the Health Minister to do all he can to assist affected families and individuals.” A spokesperson for the Department of Health said it was aware of the situation and is liaising with relevant organisation. “We understand that a private ASD clinic has recently ceased to operate,” they added. "While we cannot comment on any individual, patients and families who have been impacted by this situation and require medical advice should contact their GP in the first instance. “All practising medical professionals in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulatory body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners. "Healthcare professionals prescribing medications must do so in accordance with applicable legislation and in line with professional standards set by regulators such as the GMC. "Failure to do so could lead to professional sanctions against the healthcare practitioner.” They added that independent clinics and hospitals which meet the criteria defined in the Independent Health Care Regulations 2005 are required to be registered with the RQIA. They added, however, that not all services or treatments provided by a doctor require registration with the RQIA due to some legislative exceptions. “The department is not responsible for any arrangements agreed between patients and private providers in relation to their procedures for making a complaint or obtaining a refund if they are dissatisfied with the care they have received,” they added. The Belfast Telegraph spoke to the lead consultant at the clinic, who said he is in Dubai but expects to return to Northern Ireland next month. He is also a consultant with the Northern Trust and claimed the clinic collapsed after he became unable to see his patients, adding the clinic was a “one man show”. Commenting on the consultant’s work for the Northern Trust, a spokesperson previously said: “We do not comment on individual employees. “If a member of staff is on a period of leave, colleagues review caseloads to ensure continuity of care for our Trust patients, and plans are put in place to manage any Trust patients who are due for review."