First reported 16 Aug 2017•Latest report 5 Feb 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the adult ADHD pathway that delay or prevent assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medication access or clinically necessary monitoring, including inadequate commissioned provision, prolonged waiting lists, unclear referral routes and insufficient specialist capacity.
Not included
Excludes ADHD prescribing or monitoring failures after timely adult ADHD assessment and treatment access has been established, unless the assertion also concerns the wider access pathway.
Excludes autism-only assessment or treatment concerns where adult ADHD is not materially involved.
Excludes generic mental-health service capacity, waiting-time or appointment failures without a specific adult ADHD access, assessment or treatment connection.
Excludes isolated clinical disagreements or individual treatment decisions where no continuing deficiency in adult ADHD service access is identified.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2017–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
10
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care2
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board1
NHS England1
West London NHS Trust1
Ministerial department2
Executive non-departmental public body1
Integrated care board1
NHS trust1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
West London
Concerns raised1
Unacceptably long waits for ASD and ADHD referrals, assessments and diagnoses
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Commission additional private-provider capacity for adult autism diagnostic assessments.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Monitor delivery and waiting lists through robust monitoring and quality-assurance measures.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Streamline and improve internal adult autism assessment pathways.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Agree with commissioners that adult autism assessment capacity will be augmented.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Invest in training professionals in autism and ADHD diagnostic assessment.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Adult ADHD assessments are outside the Trust’s commissioned remit, so it cannot respond on this matter.
Stated by West London NHS TrustOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Responsibility for adult ADHD assessments rests with the North West London Integrated Care Board as commissioner.
Stated by West London NHS TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Integrated care boards are responsible for providing appropriate local autism services in line with relevant NICE guidelines.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Norfolk
Concerns raised3
Failure to provide treatment to at-risk patients awaiting adult ADHD services
Failure to monitor the condition of at-risk patients awaiting adult ADHD services
Delays in access to adult ADHD services for at-risk patients
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Explore opportunities with partners to expand ADHD pathways with pre-diagnostic or waiting-well support.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Operate the independent ADHD Taskforce to develop cross-sector understanding and improve joined-up access to early support.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Explore opportunities with partners to standardise ADHD pathways for greater consistency and transparency.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Local Integrated Care Boards commission ADHD services, including decisions on local pathways and provision.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised2
Lack of commissioned adult ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment by CPT
Failure to provide a practicable out-of-county ADHD treatment pathway with ongoing medication oversight and review
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Establish and operate a specialist adult ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment pathway in Cornwall.
Stated by NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 February 2019.
Action
Develop a shared-care agreement and prescribing guideline for pharmacological treatment of adult ADHD.
Stated by NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 February 2019.
Manchester North
Concerns raised1
Increased referral and treatment thresholds restricting access to specialist autism and ADHD/ADD services
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes failures in the adult ADHD pathway that delay or prevent assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medication access or clinically necessary monitoring, including inadequate commissioned provision, prolonged waiting lists, unclear referral routes and insufficient specialist capacity.
