ADHD services are in the UK are failing. Underinvestment and poor organisation mean that children, young people and adults are not getting the diagnosis and treatment they deserve. Increasingly patients are met with challenges when trying to access care. Whether it be essential prescriptions, annual reviews or endless waiting lists more and more people are turning towards private care – if they can. It is simply not good enough and it is time for the government to support services accordingly.
In March I was hopeful to see the government’s launch of an ADHD taskforce. Early data suggests around 2.5 million people in England have ADHD, with over half a million on waiting lists.
Yet, the current system is not designed to handle these numbers. ADHD is not even included in the NHS’s 18-week referral-to-treatment target, unlike other consultant-led conditions. GPs cannot diagnose ADHD, and patients face months or years of delay to see specialists. Furthermore, the severe shortage of ADHD medications like methylphenidate, which, thankfully, is easing now, exposed how fragile ADHD care really is.
To illustrate this point, just look to Oxfordshire. Here, a 15 or 16-year-old child exhibiting symptoms may be referred by their GP to CAMHS. Yet the waiting list is so long, the service is functionally irrelevant. By the time they are seen they will be 18 and kicked out of CAMHS and into adult mental health services. The waiting list for adult services is closed, meaning there is no NHS access to diagnosis.
Even those who get a diagnosis face insurmountable barriers to NHS treatment. NICE guidelines are clear: ADHD patients should have an annual review of their condition. This means while GPs are supposed to prescribe day to day, patients are managed under a shared care agreement with annual reviews taking place by specialists. Except in Oxfordshire, there are no specialists commissioned to carry out the reviews. GPs may therefore feel justified in stopping prescribing since there is no specialist supervision of the patient’s condition.
Oxfordshire’s issues are mirrored up and down the country. Too many young people and adults with ADHD are abandoned by the system. Private care has become a necessity, creating a two-tier health system that is unfair and unsustainable. Even if families pay for private assessments, they find those diagnoses ignored by schools or the NHS. Patients who access a private diagnosis find they need to pay privately for prescriptions too – unable to enter back into the NHS system.
Failing to support people with ADHD has wide-reaching consequences. ADHD is a leading cause of school exclusions, poor academic performance, and higher dropout rates. Shockingly, about 25% of the UK prison population has ADHD, with untreated symptoms often linked to impulsivity and offending. ADHD is also strongly associated with substance misuse, family breakdowns, and severe mental health challenges.
This crisis isn’t just about health—it’s about justice and opportunity. For some of my constituents, simply having access to regular, well-managed care would be life-changing. Like diabetes or hypertension, ADHD is a chronic condition that can be managed effectively. When we get it right, people with ADHD can lead productive lives, contribute to society, and build stable families.
The NHS is not living up to its founding principles when it comes to ADHD. The fragmentation of services, closed waiting lists, and inconsistent care mean people fall through the cracks every day. Worse, many professionals feel overwhelmed by rising referrals as awareness of ADHD grows. This is not a case of overdiagnosis—it’s a sign that people finally feel able to seek help. That demand must be met with properly funded, organised, and accountable services.
We have a duty to provide accessible, effective care for all those living with ADHD. We cannot delay any longer. The Government must urgently fund adult ADHD services, include ADHD in NHS treatment targets, improve training, and develop clear pathways to diagnosis and care.
This isn’t just about healthcare—it’s about giving millions of people the chance to live well, achieve their potential, and contribute fully to our society. It’s time to stop failing those who need us most.
ADHD in the UK: It’s Time to Stop Failing Those Who Need Us Most
