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2025.05.13
2.10 Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding improvements to ADHD services (OQ.120/2025):
Further to the Minister's commitment to develop the services available to people with A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in Jersey to "better meet their needs" which he gave in response to the petition "Support A.D.H.D. Jersey to continue and expand the non-prescription service provided", will the Minister advise what improvements he intends to make to A.D.H.D. services and by when?
Deputy T.J.A. Binet of St. Saviour (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
Work on a neuroinclusive strategy for Jersey is nearing completion. This will set out a number of objectives to improve services for people with A.D.H.D. and other neurodiverse conditions. It is going to identify priorities relating to healthcare, employment, education, the criminal justice system, support for families and training. The strategy is being developed through extensive engagement with members of the community, including public events, a questionnaire and workshops. Crucially it has been developed jointly with 2 key local charities, Autism Jersey and All Matter Neurodiverse Jersey. In addition to the forthcoming strategy, we have recently introduced living with A.D.H.D. groups. I am pleased to say that we are getting positive feedback from them.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
Ultimately the petition, which the Minister has responded to, asks for greater support for A.D.H.D. Jersey. Does the Minister believe that providing extra support for this organisation is a desirable way forward and if not, why not?
Deputy T.J.A. Binet :
I did meet with the group. They were very enthusiastic people doing a very good job, if I may say so. We are limited. I will quote from my own letter to them. It says here: "There is a process that H.C.J. (Health and Care Jersey) are required to follow to identify potential partners to deliver services on behalf of H.C.J. A fundamental part of this process would be to ensure that potential service providers have the appropriate qualifications and registrations to safely and effectively deliver such services. That is the limiting factor for us." Plus the fact that they were looking for a large sum of money and - I am sounding like a broken record because I have made the point many times before - there is no surplus cash at this point in time.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour :
I believe that this particular organisation and others are advocating for a hub, which would be where most of the funding would be needed. Given the strength of feeling behind this request, could the Minister consider where he might be able to work with existing facilities or just some way of providing a physical space where Islanders with A.D.H.D. could go to have some services provided?
Deputy T.J.A. Binet :
It is safe to say that this is under constant review. They made a very compelling case and I will not deny that. However, we have a number of constraints. There is a lot else going on in Health at this point as well. It is different to prioritise this. It will require extra money; there is no doubt about it. That is a constraining factor. From the strategy, as far as I am concerned, I have asked the team to provide whatever they can with the budget they have available. I have not yet seen the first draft of that and will be working to see what that can deliver. I am committed to try and make this work. As I say, it is a difficult nut to crack.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
Could the Minister give some indication of what that might look like, what that budget might be or what the solutions might look like?
Deputy T.J.A. Binet :
I can confirm that the budget is working within the constraints of the money that we have. I have yet to see the first draft, which I am hoping to do in the next few weeks. I will be able to report a bit more once I have done that.
2.10.3 Deputy M. Tadier :
I thank the Minister for his time, first of all, and hope that maybe we can continue offline and have meetings. Could I ask, the Minister has given a commitment in his statement to develop the services available to people with A.D.H.D. in Jersey, so given the fact that that commitment is to presumably improve the services currently on offer, how does he propose to do that if no new money is available?
Deputy T.J.A. Binet :
With difficulty, and I am not being facetious. I mean that, it is with difficulty. We are doing everything we can with the money we have available. As I say, I have not seen the new inclusive strategy yet. I am hopeful there will be some ideas in there that we can implement within the budgeting constraints that we have.