In our latest #OurEntrepreneurs profile we meet cohort 8 Clinical Entrepreneur Dr Shevonne Matheiken, Specialty Registrar and resident doctor in Old Age Psychiatry.

Tell us a bit about yourself 

I am an international medical graduate from India and have worked in Psychiatry (NHS) in the East of England since 2013.

Aside from my clinical work in dementia and psychiatric care for older adults, my interests include neurodiversity, inclusive leadership, digital innovation, doctors’ mental health and reducing inequalities in health care. During a previous role as RCPsych Psychiatric Trainees Committee (PTC) vice-chair, I was the project lead for the RCPsych podcast series relating to doctors’ well-being called ‘You are not alone’.

I was awarded the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) Fellowship in 2020 and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Fellowship in 2022. In the same year, I won 1st prize at the World Congress of Psychiatry for an oral presentation competition talking about co-production as the bridge between medical and social models of ADHD. This was the inspiration to write up the BJPsych Advances publication ‘Adult ADHD: time for a rethink?’ which was awarded Editor’s choice 2024 at RCPsych publication awards.

During the pandemic, I was honoured to be highlighted as one of the ‘25 Women in Psychiatry’ during a special campaign by the RCPsych Women in Mental Health Special-Interest Group.

Tell us about your innovation  

ADHD services are in crisis, with average waiting times for a new adult ADHD assessment in the NHS estimated as 5-10 years (Smith et al 2024), with around 200,000 individuals currently on an NHS waiting list (Darzi report 2024). Additionally, diagnosed adults face barriers and delays in accessing medication due to ongoing shortages since 2023.

I believe that ADHD as a condition needs to be taken more seriously by leaders and policy makers. Addressing the risks and burdens associated with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD is crucial, especially during a cost-of-living crisis with an already strained NHS. Ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment can help alleviate pressures on healthcare, the workforce, social care, and the criminal justice system, alongside the crucial positive impact on the individual and their family. As an example, there is an estimated 50% reduction in road traffic accidents in men treated for ADHD (Chang Z et al 2014). ADHD medication has one of the highest effect sizes in psychiatry and many report that they find medication ‘life changing’.

My plan is to build a collection of digital tools covering all aspects of the ADHD pathway (Pre-assessment processes, managing different provider referrals in primary care, ADHD assessment standardisation/quality checks, caseload management, triage tools, post-diagnostic support/monitoring). This will enable different ICBs or mental health trusts to pick and use whichever tools are helpful for their local pain points in the ADHD pathway. It will be accessible to primary care, secondary care ADHD teams, patients, carers, and private providers, aiming to improve the quality of care, clinician experience, and work efficiency. The tools will facilitate neurodiversity affirming ways of sharing of information to, from and for the patient, while upholding high standards of clinical and information governance. It will also have tools focussing on reducing inequalities within the pathways, particularly related to gender and ethnicity. There will also be an important tool looking at holistic and meaningful support for the people sat on an NHS waiting list as adults, before they can access medication.

Co-production and co-designing with people with lived experience will be the core value of this innovation, while also utilising quality improvement strategies, digital technology and possibly AI.

Why did you apply to join the programme, and what are you most looking forward to?

I always value opportunities to gain unique insights and skills. The programme was mentioned during a session at the British Indian Psychiatrists Association (BIPA) Conference by Dr Sridevi Kalidindi, a Consultant Psychiatrist and former Clinical Entrepreneur (KLIP Global), who also served as one of my referees for the application.

So far, the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme has been eye-opening and insightful, allowing me to take small steps into the unfamiliar and sometimes daunting world outside the standard medical job. The training sessions are unparalleled, and the networking opportunities with professionals from other industries working in healthcare innovation have been the biggest highlight for me. It has also been lovely to meet other fellow clinical entrepreneurs taking the brave step to choose a less trodden path to improve patient care.

What are your ambitions for the next year?

I am currently focused on completing my training in Old Age Psychiatry in a few months’ time. Afterwards, I plan to take a step back from the career treadmill to dedicate time to further develop my innovation to improve ADHD services.

Why do you think innovation is important in healthcare?

Medicine is rapidly evolving, and psychiatry, in particular, has had to adapt to new understandings of mental health and what does and doesn’t constitute mental illness. Current challenges relevant to my innovation include addressing the complexities of the neurodiversity movement, and the big chasm between the medical model of ADHD and the social model of disability.

The NHS is facing significant challenges related to funding, staffing constraints and workforce morale, which impacts its ability to provide high quality timely care to our diverse population. Given these challenges, I believe that innovation is crucial for the future, not just an optional luxury.

How can we find out more?

Please connect with me on social media for more information or if you’re interested in supporting my innovation, please email me at shevonne.matheiken@doctors.net.uk.