This project is using Discrete Event Simulation to model the children’s ADHD diagnostic and treatment pathway. The model will be used to identify delays and potential strategies to reduce waiting lists and waiting times for children accessing treatment.
The current assessment process is lengthy, proposing a new pathway that would include undertaking some of the diagnostic testing before undertaking a more comprehensive testing so that there is more confidence that patients who have assessments have ADHD.
The model will capture the changes to the pathway to assess the potential impact of these changes on waiting times and will also capture formal diagnosis and medication titration aspects of the pathway. The model may be extended to look at further 1:1 and group session appointments.
SHIFT - Hospital to Community: identifying staffing needed to clear the backlog and maintain a steady state for children’s autism and ADHD assessments, improving timely access to community and outpatient-based neurodevelopmental services. By providing timely access to diagnosis and resources, we prevent patients escalating to needing more serious, potentially hospital-based, services.
SHIFT - Sickness to Prevention: By providing timely diagnosis, patients with ADHD and autism can be supported to live well, with interventions being provided at an earlier stage and minimising the risk of developing comorbid conditions secondary to the primary diagnosis, such as depression and anxiety.