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The way that ADHD medication is currently prescribed to adults is set to be reviewed amid ongoing concerns about issues within the service.
The Health Scrutiny Panel, led by Deputy Louise Doublet, has launched the review in a bid to improve access to treatment.
It was prompted by concerns about staffing issues and an increased level of demand that is straining the current system.
Pictured: Deputy Louise Doublet is Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel.
Last month it emerged that nearly 1,000 islanders were awaiting ADHD assessments, including 817 adults and 140 young people transitioning from children's services.
At the time, Mental Health Director Andy Weir acknowledged the "core issue" as a lack of capacity, with only one consultant psychiatrist and one junior doctor currently able to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication to hundreds of patients.
Deputy Doublet explained she wants to look in detail at the service to see if there is anything the Panel can recommend to support staff and to improve the level of care to patients.
She added: "Our current system is putting an inordinate pressure on the one consultant psychiatrist we have available in Jersey.
"The Panel's concern is that this isn't only impacting staff, but also those who need regular ADHD care."
The review will explore potential solutions, such as allowing GPs to handle routine prescribing after an initial assessment by the consultant psychiatrist, an approach Deputy Doublet said is common in other justifications.
Known as 'shared prescribing', this has long been touted as a solution to the long Hospital Pharmacy queues.
Pictured: 'Shared prescribing' – which allows GPs to issue repeat prescriptions for controlled drugs – has long been touted as a solution to the long Hospital Pharmacy queues.
It could enable GPs to prescribe controlled drugs, freeing up Hospital clinicians, and allow patients to collect some medication from community pharmacies instead.
The Health Department confirmed in April that "the prescribing process remains under active review” – but the introduction of shared prescribing is likely to require Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and later Social Security Minister approval to add certain medications to the 'whitelist' on the Health Insurance Fund.
It would also require development of shared care guidelines, as well as GP agreement and funding.
In addition, the Panel is aiming to evaluate any shortage of ADHD medication and review how this could be mitigated.
It comes after global shortages forced the Health Department to issue monthly rather than six-weekly prescriptions earlier this year.
The Scrutiny Panel is calling for islanders with ADHD to share their experiences as part of the review.
You can get in touch by emailing: j.hales@gov.je
Deputy Doublet said she particularly wants to hear about the impact the current prescription service is having on the lives of patients of all walks of life.
She added: "It is important to me to make Scrutiny accessible to all islanders.
"If there is any specific way that people would like to get in touch, they can have a face-to-face meeting, a telephone call, or can send an email or a voice note."
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