Latest news with #privateclinics
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts warn millions diagnosed with ADHD may not have it - they're likely suffering another, common disorder instead
A major new analysis has fueled concerns over the accuracy of tests that diagnose ADHD, suggesting many of those told they have the disorder are in fact suffering depression. Scientists from Scandinavia and Brazil analysed common methods of diagnosing adult ADHD described in nearly 300 medical studies. Many of these diagnostic tests are currently used by doctors in the UK to spot the condition. The findings showed that in nearly half the studies, the scientists failed to rule out other causes of ADHD-like symptoms, such as depression. This means, they concluded, that the diagnostic test used may be unreliable, and therefore providing inaccurate results in the real world. 'You don't actually know if subjects have other mental disorders such as depression or schizophrenia,' the experts wrote in their report. The latest findings come amid a rapid rise in adult ADHD diagnoses in the UK, with cases rising 20-fold over the last two decades. It's a phenomenon that has raised the concern of some of the country's top psychologists and spurred a NHS investigation, launched in March. Experts have warned that rogue private clinics are over-diagnosing the condition and have questioned the widespread prescribing of powerful stimulant drugs to treat it. In the latest analysis, scientists found that a psychiatrist or psychologist made the diagnosis in only 35 per cent of ADHD cases examined. Adults in the UK can only be formally assessed for ADHD on the NHS by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist ADHD nurse. In some cases discovered by the researchers, it was explicitly stated that the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD was made by subjects themselves. One patient was reported to have reached their diagnosis with the help of a computer, the researchers explained. 'In psychiatry, we really need that all diagnoses, not just ADHD, are made with the same uniform criteria and by trained professionals,' said co-author of the study, consultant psychiatrist Dr Julie Nordgaard from the University of Copenhagen. 'Otherwise, we cannot rely on the results or compare them across studies. 'Especially in a situation where a diagnosis such as ADHD in adults is increasing, we need to be very thorough and have a solid foundation. 'Otherwise, we risk too many people getting a wrong diagnosis and not being able to give them the most effective treatment. 'Or they risk receiving unnecessary treatment that causes side-effects.' Symptoms of depression can often mimic those of ADHD, research has shown. A neurodevelopmental disorder, ADHD affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels. Common symptoms include restlessness, distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions or managing time, and making impulsive decisions. Depression, which affects roughly one in six adults in the UK, can look remarkably similar. Those with the mood disorder often experience poor concentration, low energy and disturbed sleep. Both ADHD and depression can also cause changes in appetite, restlessness and irritability as well as difficulty initiating and completing tasks. Schizophrenia, though less common—affecting just one per cent of the UK population —can also resemble ADHD in some cases. Traditionally characterised by psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, schizophrenia can also cause attention problems, particularly in its early stages. The researchers concluded it's impossible to know which disorders and symptoms were actually being affected by the treatments investigated in the trials. 'This makes the research results from many of these clinical trials difficult to utilise,' said associate professor at the University of Copenhagen Dr Mads Gram Henrikson. The study comes just months after the latest NHS figures revealed more than 549,000 people in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025—up from 416,000 the previous year. Of those currently waiting for an assessment, around 304,000 had been waiting at least a year—and 144,000 for two years or more, as NHS services struggle to keep up with spiraling demand. More than two-thirds (382,000) were aged between five and 24. Last year a MailOnline investigation revealed that doctors were dishing out powerful ADHD drugs at 10-times the rate in some parts of England than others. NHS data shows as many as one in 100 people in some areas are taking ADHD medications, compared to just one in 1,000 in nearby regions. Commenting on the findings, experts warned of over-diagnosis and 'mass-prescribing' could be putting public health at risk. University College London psychiatrist Professor Joanna Moncrieff, a vocal critic of medication overuse, said ADHD diagnosis is 'incredibly subjective'. 'One psychiatrist may think almost everyone has it, while another thinks very few do,' she said. 'We all have ADHD symptoms to some extent.' She added that private clinics are often quicker to diagnose than the NHS, making a diagnosis more likely in the independent sector. Professor Moncrieff said patients were increasingly demanding an ADHD diagnosis as the 'answer' to problems they are experiencing in areas like their work. 'This concept of ADHD has got out there and everyone is reinterpreting their difficulties in the light this new idea, 'I'm not bored and don't like my job, I have ADHD',' she said. 'Stimulants make people feel good, they make them feel confident, they make people feel a little bit euphoric, energetic, so of course people are going to be rating themselves as doing better.' Rising interest in ADHD is thought to be fueled in part by celebrities sharing their diagnoses — including Katie Price, Love Island's Olivia Attwood, Sheridan Smith and former Bake Off host Sue Perkins. Attwood said it caused 'a lot of stress' in her teens, while Price said it explained why she never felt there would be 'consequences' for her actions. Perkins said the diagnosis made 'everything make sense'. Social media has also been blamed, with users praising ADHD meds for calming them and boosting focus. NHS prescriptions have doubled in six years to 230,000, with the sharpest rise—nearly 60 per cent in a year—among women in their late 20s and early 30s. Use among 25 to 39-year-olds has increased five-fold since 2015. In response, NHS England launched a taskforce to assess the scale of the condition. ADHD is also behind a surge in disability benefit claims. One in five now relate to behavioural conditions, with over 52,000 adults—mostly aged 16 to 29—listing ADHD as their main condition.
Malay Mail
17-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Health Ministry says private clinics must only give itemised bills if requested, after backlash over TikTok Live remarks
PUTRAJAYA, May 17 – The Health Ministry today clarified that private medical clinics are only required to provide itemised billing upon request and at no extra charge, following public confusion sparked by a recent TikTok Live session. The ministry said the right of patients to receive an itemised bill is already provided for under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Private Hospitals and Other Private Healthcare Facilities) Regulations 2006. 'The issuance of an itemised bill is mandatory only upon request by the patient and must be provided at no additional charge,' the ministry said in a statement here. 'This allows patients to better understand the breakdown of charges for services, treatments, and medications received.' The ministry previously held the session titled 'Myths and Facts: Medicine Price Display' on May 14 aimed to inform the public about the policy requiring private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies to display medicine prices. The ministry stressed that there has been no new policy or change regarding the current billing practices at private medical clinics. It also expressed confidence that continued cooperation from all parties would enhance the quality of healthcare services while upholding patients' rights. On Thursday, private doctors had accused the ministry of bypassing legal channels to impose new billing requirements on clinics after a controversial TikTok Live broadcast purportedly by a senior Health Ministry officer. The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) said the guidance given by Mohemmad Redzuan Mohd Rizal, a senior officer from the Pharmaceutical Services Programme (PSP), over a TikTok Live session, was inappropriate and lacked legal basis. The group stressed that doctors operate under different legislation – namely the Medical Act 1971 and the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) – and not the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723), which typically governs retail pricing and is under the purview of the Domestic Trade Ministry.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning over popular hay fever remedy that's causing patients to go BLIND
Hay fever sufferers were today warned against buying unlicensed jabs from private clinics over terrifying health risks that could leave patients blind. The powerful prescription-only drug Kenalog suppresses the immune system, dampening the allergic reaction hay fever sufferers experience. Its effects can last months. But the injection was phased out of NHS use around a decade ago after safety watchdogs decided its risks outweighed the benefits. Yet, National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chiefs, which represents more than 6,000 UK pharmacies, have now warned chemists have seen a dramatic uptick in patients seeking advice on how to get the drug. The jabs can involve worrying side effects such as abdominal pain, vision loss, shortness of breath and bone pain. It can also leave people vulnerable to other infections, including chickenpox and shingles and potentially cause irregular heartbeats, depression and high blood pressure. But more worrying are the risks of taking a medication that isn't what is says it is. While people can legally get Kenalog privately, NPA officials are concerned that unregulated sellers like salons and beauty clinics could also be selling fake Kenalog. Clinics are banned from promoting any prescription-only medications under UK advertising rules. However, MailOnline also found salons and beauty clinics from across the UK advertising Kenalog steroid injections as a hay fever remedy on Instagram for between £50 and £75. The NPA survey, carried out earlier this month, gathered responses from more than 350 pharmacies. Some 45 per cent said they had received queries from patients on how to obtain Kenalog as a hay fever treatment, while almost all (96 per cent) had seen a significant rise in people seeking help for the condition since April. NPA chair Olivier Picard, told MailOnline: 'Kenalog is not licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK for the treatment of hay fever symptoms. 'This means that if a patient is accessing Kenalog, there is a risk it is through an unregulated source, such as a beauty salon or a seller from an abroad instead of regulated pharmacy. 'The drug has a number of side effects, including joint pain and increased risk of infection and in more rare and serious cases it can cause mental health issues. 'We are urging patients who are struggling with hay fever symptoms to avoid Kenalog and instead to use a regulated community pharmacy, who can treat the symptoms easily and safely.' He added: 'Medication from unregulated sellers could be fake, swapped for an alternative medication and not meet rigorous safety standards we have in the UK. 'If people are unsure about medication bought online, they should check with their pharmacist.' Research has shown Kenalog injections can cause vision loss by increasing pressure inside the eye damaging the optic nerve, like other steroids. Vision loss can also occur via accidental injection into blood vessels, with the likelihood of this happening rising among unqualified injectors. Kenalog is the brand name for triamcinolone acetonide and is a steroid injection. It is licensed as a medicine for a number of conditions such as joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis, though not for the treatment of hay fever. Last summer, UK health chiefs issued a joint enforcement notice about the advertising of Kenalog injections on social media, which was welcomed by health bodies and charities including Allergy UK. The MHRA alongside the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) warned any ads found to include text or images promoting the jabs would be banned. Even including a syringe emoji would be a breach of the law. At the time, Shahriar Coupal, the director of CAP, said: 'Our enforcement notice, published jointly with the MHRA, makes it abundantly clear that Kenalog, as a prescription-only-medicine, should not be directly or indirectly advertised to the public.' He added: 'Our rules apply across media, but we are particularly concerned about the prevalence of Kenalog injection advertising on social media.' MailOnline, however, today found several clinics — most of which specialised in cosmetic treatments — still promoting Kenalog for as little as £50. One aesthetics clinic, based just outside of Doncaster, advertised £60 jabs on Instagram. 'One injection can suppress the body's immune response to histamine for up to three months,' it said. WHAT IS KENALOG AND WHY WAS IT PULLED FROM NHS? What is Kenalog? Kenalog is a steroid injection used to treat hay fever. The jab, usually administered to the buttocks, contains triamcinolone — a corticosteroid hormone. Rather than curing hay fever, it is a blunt tool that works by suppressing the body's immune response, so that symptoms are alleviated. One injection may be enough for hay fever sufferers to get through the year but others may need a booster dose two weeks after the first. As well as hay fever, the drug is used to treat arthritis, gout and skin diseases. Why did the NHS stop offering Kenalog? The jabs were routinely given to severe hay fever sufferers until around a decade ago. But guidelines found their side effect risk was too high, compared to the benefits of the jab. It was found to leave people vulnerable to other infections like chicken pox, shingles or the flu, and cause serious side effects like irregular heartbeats, depression and high blood pressure. Another, in Kent offered the medication for £70. 'Hayfever injections can enhance your complexion and restore confidence, allowing you to enjoy the seasons without the discomfort of allergies,' they wrote. The NPA has also now urged regulators to reintroduce rules that made it mandatory for a list of regulated online UK medicine sellers to be made publicly available. Previous EU rules required this to happen, but these were scrapped when the UK left the EU. Medical professionals have long urged the millions of Brits who suffer from bad hay fever, as well as asthma and other lung issues, to take precautions, including taking regular medication, always carrying their inhaler and call 111 if their symptoms get worse. Patients are advised to visit their local pharmacy for quick and safe treatments to relieve their symptoms. The NHS also recommends people put Vaseline around their nostrils to trap pollen, wear wrap-around sunglasses to stop pollen getting in the eyes and shower and change clothes after being outside to wash pollen off. Unlike a cold, which normally goes away within a week, hay fever can last for weeks or months. Symptoms begin when immune cells mistakenly identify pollen proteins as a threat and make antibodies that trigger chemicals called histamines. These make the blood vessels dilate, prompting the release of fluid from capillaries, triggering a runny nose, sneezing and weeping eyes. While not life-threatening itself, tens of thousands of hay fever sufferers also have asthma, which can flare-up during pollen bombs. Asthma attacks can be fatal.
