Shadow Minister for Public Health, Luciana Berger, visited the Liverpool offices of the ADHD Foundation to find out more about the support it is providing Merseyside children, young people and their families living with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and the learning difficulties and mental health problems associated with this neurodisability.

Ms Berger, who is Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, met with the staff and service users of the national charity at its base on Dale Street in the city centre.

The ADHD Foundation promotes and improves the mental health outcomes, educational attainment, social inclusion and life chances of children, young people and adults affected by ADHD through early intervention with a range of training and therapies.

The charity, which comprises a multidisciplinary team of 15 staff and which works in close partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, builds the skills, knowledge and capacity of parents, carers, schools and all other concerned agencies to meet the needs of those living with ADHD.

Since setting up in 2007, the ADHD Foundation has worked with more than over 1,000 Liverpool families, and has recently expanded into Sefton, St Helens and Warrington. Last year, the Foundation supported over 264 families and 351 individual children and young people, helping them to understand and manage the lived realities of ADHD. The Foundation is one of only five comparable organisations in the UK and is the largest patient-led service in the UK and the only one in receipt of NHS funding.

Acting CEO of the ADHD Foundation, Dr Tony Lloyd, said:

“The speed at which we and other referrers are able to respond to vulnerable young people in distress in Merseyside is critical in achieving a successful outcome.

“Population data suggests that diagnostic prevalence is below what NICE propose nationally and this is reflected regionally – with under two per cent in Sefton and under three per cent of children in Liverpool actually obtaining a diagnosis.

“This suggests that there are many children without appropriate support to reduce the long term risks for health, wellbeing, educational attainment, employability and a range of life chances affected by ADHD.

“Although we’re a relatively new charity in Liverpool, we have achieved a lot so far. It’s therefore fantastic for us to have the opportunity to share our success story with Luciana and for families to have the opportunity to speak with her personally about how they are trying to achieve the best for their children.”

Luciana Berger, Labour and Co-operative MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said:

“The work that the ADHD Foundation is carrying out in Merseyside is making a lasting difference to so many young people and their families in terms of increasing equality of opportunity and achievement within education, employment and training.

“The therapeutic interventions that the charity provides not only promote and improve the social inclusion and life chances of children, young people and families living with ADHD, but also greatly reduce dependencies on statutory services.

“The charity is also tackling the stigma surrounding the condition through increased knowledge and understanding of the lived realities of ADHD, which is crucial if we are to provide our children and young people the support they need as quickly as possible.

“I was extremely impressed by the team at the ADHD Foundation and the operation itself and greatly look forward to watching the charity grow from strength to strength in the future both regionally and nationally.”