The NHS is facing an exodus of staff from its ADHD and autism services, with specialist personnel moving to private clinics. This trend is occurring amid significant demand from both children and adults seeking diagnoses.
The departure of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and other staff is reportedly weakening the NHS and may compel more people to seek private healthcare. One NHS trust in England has already been forced to limit access to its neurodevelopmental service, restricting it to only the most urgent cases.
In response, the NHS care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), announced on Friday that it will begin inspecting private clinics that provide diagnostic assessments for ADHD and autism. These clinics were previously unregulated. This move follows a government-commissioned review that urged ministers to ensure all service providers are properly regulated.
Scores of private clinics have emerged in recent years, capitalising on the large number of people unable to access NHS care due to overwhelmed services and long waiting lists for neurodiversity diagnoses. The CQC's interim inspector of mental health care, Adrian James, stated that this new responsibility will "close a significant gap in our oversight."
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the tighter regulation means "people can be confident that assessments are high quality and that the NHS is not being overcharged by independent or private providers." Approximately 810,000 children and adults in England are currently waiting for an assessment.