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As reported by the BBC, some adults are waiting five years to be assessed for ADHD because of a sharp rise in referrals, the BBC has found
Assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can take longer than five years in Sussex and up to four years in Surrey, data from health bodies show.
Campaigners are calling for increased government investment to cut waiting times and speed up diagnosis.
NHS bosses said increased awareness has put significant pressure on services.
David Murray, from Woking, waited more than two years for an assessment. He said his diagnoses “was affirmation that I am not broken, that I am not a bad person, I am not lazy”.
Marie Hackshall, from NHS Kent and Medway, said there had been a 700% increase in demand for ADHD services since last year.
“Patients are waiting somewhere between 18 months and two years for an assessment,” she added.
Surrey and Borders NHS Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said referrals for assessment have risen from more than 2,200 in 2020/21 to over 4,400 in 2021/22.
Sussex Partnership NHS Trust said demand for services has ‘had an impact on waiting lists and we know that people are experiencing long waiting times’.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are increasing investment into mental health services by at least £2.3bn a year by 2023/24 so an additional 2m people can get the support they need.”
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