Complain to the BBC
Add your voice to ensure ADHD is heard
We’re responded to Panorama fully here. We, and other organisations, have complained. Adding your voice matters. The more complaints, the louder we are and the more we’re heard. The more likely we are to get a positive reaction.
Below is a quick crib sheet on doing a complaint, including a template on text to submit. You can just copy/paste or chose to personalise. Both are fine.
Stage 1a
Complain to the BBC. Receive a (usually template) response
Stage 1b
Respond (if applicable) to say you are not satisfied. It gets escalated and you get a response from a more senior person.
Stage 2
Respond (if applicable) to say you are not satisfied. It gets escalated to the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU). Their response is the final response from the BBC.
Ofcom
Only after the BBC has completed it’s process you can complain to Ofcom. Ofcom has different rules to the BBC with more specificity around disability.
Complaint Step By Step Guide
Step 1: Click to the site, complete the first simple details.
Click to the complaints page. Scroll to the bottom. For each question:
What is your complaint about? : TV (programmes/schedule)
Which TV channel or service is your complaint about?: BBC One
Are you contacting us about a previous complaint: No [Unless you have complained about this before]
Step 2a: Fill in the programme details
Suggested answers are as follows:
Step 2b: Fill in your complaint
Some suggested complaint text is below. It is fine to copy/paste. It can help to personalise it but the BBC tends to copy/paste its reply so don’t feel you have to.
It is your option to ask for a response. It doesn’t impact the weight of your adding your voice if you ask for a response or not.
Panorama’s show on ADHD has not been representative of the situation for ADHD in the UK.
It has given undue prominence to some bad practices within the private sector. The uncovering off poor practice I welcome; however, the lack of balance and undue prominence to one narrative has caused harm.
It was not balanced in how it presented the different aspects of the private sector. Notably by not including good practices in the private sector.
It was not balanced in how it presented the different aspects of the NHS. Notably, not including issues for ADHD in the NHS – including long wait lists, Assessment availability, and post-Assessment care.
It was not balanced in how it presented the NHS provision to the private sector. Notably, presenting a 3+ hour NHS Assessment as what should be expected. Research from ADHD UK indicates only 21% of NHS Assessments are 3+ hours.
The show did not consider how it might cause harm for individuals with a private ADHD diagnosis.
The show did not provide any other perspectives to the opinion presented. The show failed to have anyone who openly has ADHD talking about what they thought of the findings or the overall situation. There was no inclusion of charities working in the sector.
The show was misleading in representing a narrative of private ADHD diagnosis simply for sale without validity. It misled me to believe that an Assessment needed to be via the NHS in a 3+ hour meeting.
That has led to harm. ADHD UK have done research with over 1,500 participants reacting to the show. The results show 89% think stigma has increased for ADHD, 83% think it will stop people in need coming forward for diagnosis and help, and 75% think they will have a personal negative impact from the show.
I am formally complaining about this show.
Step 3: Fill in your contact details, Review, & Submit
A phone number is required. If you don’t want to use your own – you can use ours: 020 3984 9679
Step 4: ESSENTIAL Click and confirm receipt of the BBC email.
You have just 60 minutes to do so
Your complaint will not be submitted until you do so. It is essential you click the link to confirm your email address.
Your complaint will not be submitted until you do so. It is essential you click the link to confirm your email address.
Step 5: You get a response.
If you’re satisfied great. If not – you need to do step 6. Otherwise, it stops here.
From the BBC perspective this matter is now closed. Unless you resubmit and escalate.
What happens next. And what you need to do next.
Short version – unless you escalate it won’t get properly evaluated. We need the BBC’s Executive Complaint Unit to investigate and issue a response. Once that is complete, we can complain to Ofcom which has specific rules around disability.
Step 6: Resubmit.
First Screen:
Follow the flow as before. Say “YES” to “Are you contacting us about a previous complaint?”
Second Screen:
Subject: Resubmitting my compaint.
Your complaint: Use your previous text or the text from above.
Third Screen:
Enter your case number and person details.
Fourth Screen:
Review and submit.
Step 7: Second Response.
This is technically stage 1b for the BBC. You get a response from a more senior person at the BBC.
The BBC then advise you (and us) on the next stages of the process and how to escalate to the Executive Complaint Unit.
Stage 1a
Complain to the BBC. Receive a (usually template) response
Stage 1b
Respond (if applicable) to say you are not satisfied. It gets escalated and you get a response from a more senior person.
Stage 2
Respond (if applicable) to say you are not satisfied. It gets escalated to the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU). Their response is the final response from the BBC.
Ofcom
Only after the BBC has completed it’s process you can complain to Ofcom. Ofcom has different rules to the BBC with more specificity around disability.