A BBC investigation has revealed that many areas in the UK face such extensive backlogs for adult ADHD assessments that it would take at least eight years to clear them at the current rate. This conclusion is based on Freedom of Information requests, which indicate that about half of the services are experiencing delays of this magnitude. The investigation, focusing on adults rather than children, estimates there are at least 196,000 adults on waiting lists across the country. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has stressed that no-one should have to wait years for life-changing care.
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, affects people’s behaviour, making it difficult to concentrate and manage time, often leading to impulsive actions and risk-taking. Diagnosis is only given if the symptoms have a significant impact on the individual’s life. The government acknowledges that delays in ADHD diagnosis are part of a broader issue within the NHS, which they are striving to address. Increased demand, with referrals quadrupling since 2019, coupled with limited capacity, has led to these long waits. In some cases, like the Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust, the waiting list exceeds 6,000 people, and only three patients were assessed last year.
The BBC contacted 70 adult ADHD service providers in the UK, receiving responses from 66. Since there is no central recording of wait times for ADHD assessments, BBC Verify used data from 44 trusts and health boards to calculate the backlogs. The findings suggest that for 24 services, it would take eight years or more to clear their waiting lists, with only two trusts, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North East London NHS Foundation Trust, able to see all their patients within a year.
The chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, Thea Stein, noted the unprecedented increase in demand for ADHD services, stating that thousands are waiting in distress, and radical solutions are necessary. The Royal College of Psychiatrists echoed these concerns, highlighting that ADHD services are struggling to cope with the rising demand.
All four UK governments claim they are working to improve the situation, and NHS England has launched an independent expert taskforce to investigate the challenges facing ADHD services and manage the increasing number of referrals. Despite these efforts, there is no clear solution in sight. While some NHS trusts suggested that GPs could take over ADHD assessments and treatment, the Royal College of General Practitioners opposes this idea, arguing that it is not a viable solution.
All four UK governments claim they are working to improve the situation, and NHS England has launched an independent expert taskforce to investigate the challenges facing ADHD services and manage the increasing number of referrals. Despite these efforts, there is no clear solution in sight. While some NHS trusts suggested that GPs could take over ADHD assessments and treatment, the Royal College of General Practitioners opposes this idea, arguing that it is not a viable solution.
