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Deputy Tom Binet
Minister for Health and Social Services
BY EMAIL
11th November 2024
Dear Minister,
Health and Social Security Panel
Review of Prescription of Medication for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Dear Minister
As part of our evidence gathering, we would be grateful if you could provide a response on the following questions.
- Could you provide an update on the status of the work that was due to be undertaken by Government regarding the neurodiversity strategy?
- We are aware that a conference took place on Thursday 10th October on ADHD which involved talks from both off Island and on Island experts on the subject. Could you confirm what engagement and promotion of the conference took place?
- Are you confident that the conference targeted all relevant stakeholders including members of the public?
- The Panel was not aware of this conference is very much reliant on effective working between Executive and Scrutiny, relying on open communication on topics which are of mutual benefit. We would like to draw your attention to Article D, Item 24 of the Scrutiny - Executive Engagement Code entitled Reviews - Process and Access to Information' where Ministers are required and other applicable Departmental Officers are required to actively assist Panels in volunteering any additional material information held by them in respect of a review.
The importance of evidence to an effective scrutiny process is recognised by all parties. Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Director General/ Accounting Officers and other applicable Departmental Officers will therefore actively assist Panels/ PAC in the conduct of their work by volunteering any additional material information held by them, or otherwise under their control, in respect of a Review topic which may not have been specifically requested, to enable the Scrutiny Panels/PAC to comprehensively review the matter. Where there is uncertainty over the relevance of information held, within 5 working days of the request the SLO should contact the respective Committee and Panel Officer, who will inform the Panel/PAC and arrange with the SLO for the material in question to be assessed for its relevance by the Panel/PAC.
Due to the ongoing review into ADHD, we consider the sponsoring of the conference by Health and Social Services to be one of those instances which is covered in the above clause.
- Could you confirm why the Panel was not informed and offered the opportunity to attend?
- We note in our public hearing with you on 16th October you stated that the global shortages on medication were due to ease in October or November of this year. Can you confirm if this is the case and if so, by how much they have eased. If not, can you confirm when the shortage is likely to ease?
- Can you provide statistics for all those prescribed ADHD medication for each year from 2015 to 2024.
We would be grateful if you could provide a response by 15th November. Whilst this is slightly shorter than the 5 working days for responses between Ministers and Scrutiny, we would be grateful for this turnaround to allow us to use the information within our report which is currently being drafted.
Please note all letters will be uploaded to the States Assembly website as a matter of course unless stated otherwise.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Louise Doublet
Chair, Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel