Four NHS integrated care boards (ICBs) in England are now requiring people with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism to wait a minimum of two years before they can be assessed. This measure has been adopted because the ICBs are struggling to meet the surging demand for neurodiversity diagnoses and cannot afford the associated costs.
In total, 15 ICBs, covering 19 million people, have introduced various methods of rationing assessments for ADHD and autism. These include limiting the number of assessments paid for annually and using “clinical prioritisation” criteria to restrict assessments to those with the most serious signs.
Patient groups have voiced concerns, with the charity ADHD UK describing minimum waits as “heartless and dangerous”. They warn that such delays may negatively impact children's school success, deny individuals necessary support, and increase the risk of suicide.
West Yorkshire NHS ICB has implemented a two-year minimum waiting time for assessments with independent providers, citing a rise in costs from £7m in 2023-24 to £21m last year. Other ICBs, including North East and North Cumbria, Somerset, Devon, and Kent and Medway, have also introduced minimum waits or restricted assessments based on priority criteria.