NHS waiting lists for ADHD assessments have reached unprecedented levels, with experts warning that the current backlog is so severe it would take 2,000 years to clear at the current pace. With more than half a million people stuck in assessment queues and demand rising every year, campaigners say the system is at breaking point.
And now, facing widespread delays and inconsistent access to care, ADHD advocacy groups are preparing for a major legal challenge aimed at forcing the NHS to meet its obligations to patients.
A Growing Crisis: More Than 668,000 People Waiting
New NHS England data reveals a staggering 668,370 people currently waiting for an ADHD assessment. For context, an estimated 2.5 million people in England are believed to have ADHD — meaning a large proportion of those affected are still going undiagnosed.
This demand has also been reflected in medication rates. Prescriptions for ADHD medications have more than doubled in five years, rising from 137,885 patients (2018–2019) to 302,125 patients (2023–2024).
While increasing diagnoses and treatment rates suggest greater recognition of ADHD, they also highlight just how sharply demand has outpaced the NHS’s ability to respond.
The Social Media Effect — and the Pandemic’s Lingering Impact
Experts say several factors are driving the surge:
📱 Increased Awareness Through Social Media
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been instrumental in spreading ADHD awareness. People see relatable content, recognise their own symptoms, and seek assessment.
😷 Pandemic Stress Made Symptoms Harder to Ignore
Lockdowns disrupted routines and increased stress — both of which can amplify underlying ADHD symptoms. For many, the pandemic made long-standing struggles suddenly impossible to dismiss.
An Impossible Backlog: One Trust Assessed Just Three Patients in a Year
One of the most shocking examples comes from a single NHS trust, which reported 6,000 people waiting for assessment between 2023 and 2024 — while only three patients actually received an assessment that year.
At that rate, the backlog would take 2,000 years to clear.
Henry Shelford, founder of ADHD UK, warns that this is not an isolated case but a symptom of a failing system.
“We see people waiting for years, and in some cases over a decade, for ADHD assessments. This healthcare failure costs lives and livelihoods.”
Legal Action: Campaigners Fight for the 18-Week Right to Treatment
Under the NHS constitution, patients have a right to start non-urgent consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral. However, campaigners say this standard isn’t being applied to ADHD and other mental health services — leaving many without recourse.
ADHD UK is preparing to launch a legal challenge against local health boards that fail to meet the 18-week standard.
The charity is also supporting individuals stuck on waiting lists to bring legal complaints against their providers.
This comes after a previous successful action earlier in the year, when the organisation blocked an NHS England proposal to cap how much work could be outsourced to external ADHD assessment providers through the Right to Choose scheme.
Children Waiting Up to 10 Years for Help
The crisis extends to children and young people as well. In Coventry and Warwickshire, more than 7,500 children and teens are on waiting lists — with some waiting up to 10 years for an assessment.
In response, the local Integrated Care Board has temporarily paused new adult referrals to focus resources on younger patients.
Dr Imogen Staveley, Chief Medical Officer for the ICB, admits the situation is unacceptable:
“More than 7,500 children in Coventry and Warwickshire are on ADHD waiting lists, with some waiting up to ten years. We know that’s not good enough.”
Why ADHD Care Matters — and Why Delays Are So Dangerous
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a behavioural choice. It affects:
- Attention and focus
- Emotional regulation
- Impulse control
- Time perception
- Executive functioning, such as planning and organisation
Without support, people with ADHD face higher risks of:
- Job loss
- Academic struggles
- Financial instability
- Depression and anxiety
- Substance misuse
- Relationship breakdown
- Lower overall quality of life
Research consistently shows that timely assessment and treatment improve stability at home, in school, and at work — and reduce the long-term costs to society.
Inside the ADHD Brain: What’s Actually Happening?
Scientists have identified several key brain regions involved in ADHD:
🧠 Prefrontal Cortex
Responsible for attention, planning, and impulse control. In ADHD, it may struggle to regulate focus effectively.
💛 Limbic System
Manages emotional responses. Dopamine deficiency here can lead to emotional volatility and restlessness.
🔁 Basal Ganglia
Helps coordinate communication between brain regions. “Short-circuiting” can contribute to inattention and impulsivity.
🔔 Reticular Activating System
A major relay system for attention. Problems here can cause hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour.
What Needs to Change?
The crisis reveals systemic failures that require urgent reform:
1. Clear, enforceable waiting time standards
Without binding limits, ADHD patients will continue to be overlooked within the broader NHS.
2. Investment in specialist services
Current services cannot meet demand. Scaling up is essential.
3. Greater use of external providers
Right to Choose has helped thousands access timely care — and limiting it would worsen delays.
4. Better training for GPs and mental health clinicians
Many primary-care professionals lack confidence in recognising and managing ADHD.
5. Research-informed policy
Demand isn’t a fad — it’s unmet need finally coming to light.
Final Thoughts
ADHD has always been common. What’s new is the public’s willingness to talk about it — and the growing recognition of how profoundly it affects daily life. But awareness alone isn’t enough. Without a functioning assessment system, hundreds of thousands remain unsupported.
The 2,000-year waiting list figure is shocking, but it may be the wake-up call policymakers need.
Until meaningful reform takes place, campaigners, clinicians, and individuals with ADHD will continue fighting for timely, equitable access to care.
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