A 54-year-old father is staging a protest at a youth mental health facility in Hove over what he describes as unacceptable waiting times for his son’s ADHD assessment.

Yaser Dirki’s son Rolan, 17, was referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services on New Church Road by his doctor earlier this year and has been waiting approximately a year for an ADHD assessment. The family completed all necessary paperwork after the referrals, but Mr. Dirki says he has not heard anything from the service since joining the waiting list.

He described the wait as endless and said children’s healthcare cannot be delayed. He simply wants the best for his children.

Mr. Dirki has been holding his protest since Monday, April 13, noting that he has received significant support from passers-by.

He said the situation is affecting his son’s emotional wellbeing and ability to function daily. Rolan is approaching 18, when he will transition to adult mental health services, and Mr. Dirki expressed further concern about what happens when that time comes.

Many parents have approached Mr. Dirki during the protest, sharing similar stories of waiting years for their children to be seen.

He said children’s healthcare cannot be delayed, and he simply wants the best for his children.

When Mr. Dirki spoke with a service manager, he was told about staffing and funding challenges. He was advised about the Right to Choose option, which could potentially offer a shorter waiting time.

The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said it is working to address waiting times for ADHD and autism assessments. The trust said it is taking steps to address workforce challenges and expand capacity, and is working with partner organisations to develop a countywide support offer for young people while they wait.

The trust said it is committed to involving service users in the ongoing development of its services and values feedback.