NHS waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis and support have led to a ‘significant’ rise in the use of unregulated private providers, a report has said.
The ADHD Taskforce, commissioned by NHS England with the support of the Government, has published an interim report calling for the system of diagnosing and managing the neurological condition to be overhauled.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is characterised by patterns of restlessness, impulsivity and difficulty concentrating on one thing, with assessment and treatment typically provided by highly specialised doctors.
But the report warned: ‘Inability to access NHS services has led to a significant growth in the use of private providers that are not regulated, resulting in two-tier access to services, diagnosis and treatment; one for those who can pay and another for those who cannot.
‘This drives health inequalities and links to disproportionate impacts and outcomes in the education and justice systems, employment and health.’
Experts said waiting times for NHS ADHD services ‘have escalated and are unacceptably long’, with demand on services ‘very likely’ to continue to rise.
Professor Anita Thapar, chair of the ADHD Taskforce, said: ‘We need to get this right – to make sure people get early diagnosis and support.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘The report into the state of the NHS laid out how severe the delays have become for people waiting for an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis.’
