Why does Streeting want to deny me my medication?

Yesterday, Wes Streeting announced a review into “overdiagnosis” of ADHD and autism. Overdiagnosis is the health secretary’s preferred way of reframing the 500,000-strong waiting list for assessment in the UK, added to the myriad waiting lists for every other health problem affecting people’s lives.

- KAT BROWN

The news comes as the number of flu patients taking up hospital beds across England has risen by more than 50 per cent. Free flu jabs have been significantly limited by the government this year, along with those for Covid, despite a severe new strain being identified. Warnings have gone out begging the public not to go to A&E for hiccups, sore throats and ingrowing toenails. But, yes, by all means come after the disorders that, left untreated, have very real consequences both for the individual and for society.

Streeting has blustered about assessments “pathologising feelings”, apparently missing the fact that his GPs have long doled out antidepressants as a sticking plaster for everything from grief to menopause. Indeed, the government’s health strategy appears to be putting its fingers in its ears and collectively going “la-la-la”. The NHS estimates that one in four adults has depression, anxiety or some other mental health condition, with 8.9 million people in England on antidepressants, up from 6.9 million a decade ago. Streeting has said this is “cause for concern”. You bet it is!