Focus ADHD programme wins mental health innovation award

The Focus ADHD Programme, being rolled out by the AHSN Network and QbTech, has won the Innovative Mental Health Intervention category at the National Mental Health and Wellbeing awards. 

The programme is improving how clinicians assess children and young people for ADHD through the uptake and implementation of an objective ADHD assessment (called the QbTest) to supplement the existing clinical assessment process. 

The QbTest is created by health technology company Qbtech Ltd and uses a headband, motion-tracking camera and stand to observe and measure three of the critical symptoms of ADHD: attention, impulsivity and motor activity. 

The programme is in its final year, having originated from the East Midlands in 2017 and subsequently been selected for national adoption and spread across the AHSN Network. 

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards are a UK-wide celebration of excellence in mental health and well-being interventions, plus the celebration of inspirational mental health stories. 

Judges praised “the way the programme is using technology to overcome a problem that has caused pain and suffering, difficulties, and delays for so many people – challenging those traditional pathways” as well as “the evidence base of the differences the programme has made to waiting lists and diagnosis.” 

In the East of England we have rolled this programme out across four sites, supporting changes in pathways, workforce and data collection. To date 344 tests have been completed and partners have reported a positive effect through reducing waiting lists and improving peer support and sharing through our community of practice. 

The AHSN Network’s Focus ADHD programme also won the award for Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards 2022.