There has been a large increase in the number of patients prescribed ADHD medication by GPs.

Figures on Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire showed that the number of patients receiving ADHD medication in the three months to June doubled from 2020, at 8226.

The uptick in prescribing comes amid a shortage of key drugs used to treat the condition.

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ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - is a condition which affects both adults and children that may cause difficulty concentrating, impulsive decision making, and restlessness.

CEO of the ADHD Foundation, Tony Lloyd, suggested that ADHD has been significantly underdiagnosed - particularly among women.

But he added: "Medication should not be used in isolation and should form part of a range of strategies and lifestyle choices to manage ADHD successfully."

The charity said that just over 200,000 (10%) of an estimated two million UK citizens with the condition are receiving medication.

A national patient safety alert about a shortage of certain drugs used to treat the condition was issued by the NHS in September.

Shortages are expected to be resolved between October and December.

CEO of the ADHD UK charity, Henry Shelford, said: "The NHS should have realised that this was happening and had a plan in place."

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are aware of supply issues affecting medicines used for the management of ADHD due to increased global demand, and we have issued communications to the NHS to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients during this time."

Findings come in the midst of a national debate about how far ADHD is currently under or over diagnosed.