Our Story
A father’s fight for his son became a mission to fix ADHD care for everyone.
This is the true story of why Dopa exists—and why we’ll never stop fighting for fair, accessible ADHD treatment.
In 2015, my partner and I adopted a beautiful, funny ten-month-old boy named Alex. We had longed to become parents for years, and after seeing my brother’s successful adoption journey, we decided to take the plunge ourselves.
When Alex was about two, he started nursery, and it was not long before we began getting the dreaded calls. He had bitten someone, climbed on things, or was generally too boisterous. Hoping a smaller, homely environment would help, we moved him to a childminder. Although he made progress there over the next couple of years, his behaviour continued to stand out. He had intense outbursts that did not seem like what other children were experiencing.
At the time, we had no idea this could be ADHD.
When Alex started Reception in a larger class, things deteriorated quickly. His speech was delayed, he struggled to share, and he often got into trouble for hitting or having meltdowns.
I reached out to the post-adoption support team, but they were convinced his challenges were attachment issues. That hurt deeply, as we felt so bonded with him. The school, influenced by the social worker, thought the same.
We felt so bonded with him. Being told it was “attachment issues” hurt deeply.
By Years 1 and 2, Alex’s difficulties with social interactions, constant activity, and complete lack of sense of danger were impossible to ignore. My partner and I started to realise this was much more than just a lively child.
We approached our GP, who agreed to refer Alex to the neurodiversity service in Sheffield. When we learned the wait was four years, we were devastated. Our son was stressed and miserable at school, and home life became incredibly tense with frequent meltdowns and anxiety about returning to school.
Seeing the same patterns at home and school, we decided to pay for a private assessment.
The Diagnosis
Alex was diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, and shortly afterwards, autism. Although the diagnoses were hard to hear, they finally gave us a path forward. I knew from my research that treatment could make a life-changing difference.
The Financial Reality
What our family spent on private ADHD care
5years
on the NHS waiting list
£23k
spent on private ADHD care
£320/mo
medication costs alone
But this is where the financial burden hit us hard. The assessment was just the start of what became thousands of pounds spent on titration appointments, prescriptions, and medication. Over five months of titration, we spent around £1,960. After that, we paid £85 every month just for prescription writing, plus medication costs of around £320 a month because Alex needed both stimulant and non-stimulant medications.
After four years on the NHS waiting list, we were finally contacted with an appointment date—still twelve months away. It took five years in total to get NHS care. By then, we had spent around £23,000 on private diagnosis, reviews, titration, prescriptions, and medication.
It was outrageous, unethical, and it should not happen to any family.
The Transformation
Despite the challenges, the right medication transformed Alex’s life. He became happier at school, started making friends, learned to read and write, and showed his extraordinary talent for maths. None of this would have been possible without timely treatment.
Now, Alex is under the care of the NHS neurodiversity team, who review and adjust his medication as needed.
Why I Built Dopa
Our experience inspired me to create change in ADHD assessment and prescribing. As a nurse consultant with twenty years of experience, I knew I could channel my passion into creating a service that would challenge the status quo. My mission was to build an ADHD prescribing service with truly transparent pricing—fair to families, and ethical in every way.
When new clients tell us our service sounds too good to be true, I tell them it is not—it is simply fair.
Our approach stands out because it is honest and affordable, and I am proud of that. My goal is to make life-changing ADHD treatment accessible to as many people as possible, at a cost that is realistic for most families.
