NHS waiting times for ADHD and autism assessments now exceed two years
NHS boards in England have imposed minimum two-year waiting times for ADHD and autism assessments due to surging referrals.
Rising demand overwhelms the system
Nearly one million people in England are currently on waiting lists for ADHD clinical assessments. The average wait time has already surpassed one year at sixty-four weeks. About 295,000 individuals await an autism assessment as formal diagnoses grow rapidly.
Diagnosis rates increased sharply recently
Annual incidence of autism diagnosis in males aged three to twenty-five rose from 185 to 580 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2022. Female diagnosis rates for the same group climbed from 45 to 320 during that period. These figures reflect a significant shift in understanding and social attitudes toward these conditions.
Delays impact access to support
Long waits prevent patients from receiving timely clinical help or specialist school support. Families also face delays in accessing financial assistance through disability benefits while waiting for a formal diagnosis. This trend has caused alarm at the Treasury and strained public services.
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