UK ex‑GP college chief Iona Heath sparks ADHD controversy

Dr Iona Heath, former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), said in promotional material for Channel 4’s documentary “The Great ADHD Myth?” that ADHD “is certainly not a medical condition as far as I’m concerned.” The statement triggered a strong reaction from the UK medical community. The RCGP issued a clarification that the quote was not made on its behalf, reaffirming that ADHD is recognised as a neurodevelopmental condition and that the college supports evidence‑based care in line with national guidance.

National Health Service data show about 2.5 million people in the United Kingdom live with ADHD, with diagnoses rising roughly twenty‑fold since the start of the century. In the most recent year, 427 000 people in England were prescribed medication for the disorder, a 31 % increase on the previous year, and adult prescriptions grew 40 %. The documentary and accompanying debate question whether rising diagnoses reflect greater awareness or whether modern lifestyle and schooling practices are pathologising normal behaviour. Dr Heath later argued that the RCGP’s response was premature, as it was based on a press release rather than a viewing of the full programme.