As reported by Open Access Government, a report by The King’s Fund has revealed NHS services are struggling to keep pace with growing demand for adult ADHD assessments
With awareness of adult ADHD on the rise, the report warns that the current system is underdiagnosing and undertreating thousands of adults, often leaving them waiting years for assessment. In some cases, clinicians reported waiting times of up to 10 years.
The researchers examined local NHS data, reviewed board papers from mental health and community trusts, and interviewed senior clinicians and service providers across six sites. Their findings point to a lack of standardised processes and major variations in how referrals, triage, and diagnosis are handled.
One of the biggest challenges is the poor quality and inconsistency of data, caused by outdated and fragmented clinical information systems. These systems make it difficult to track waiting times, referral volumes, or even the number of accurate diagnoses. Some trusts struggle to record when and how patients move from assessment to diagnosis, while others face issues with coding and reporting.
The King’s Fund is calling for urgent national guidance to standardise data collection and reporting for adult ADHD services. They recommend introducing consistent templates, coding systems, and embedding these requirements into NHS and independent provider contracts.
Improving data quality, the report concludes, is essential to ensuring fair, timely, and effective access to ADHD assessment and care for adults across the country.
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