NHS bosses warn of chaos in ADHD and autism care
Summary
NHS leaders warn that care for autism and ADHD is becoming disorganized as costs rise sharply and many new private providers enter the market. They say the system is expensive, inconsistent, and hard to regulate, which could harm patients and waste taxpayer money.Key Facts
- The NHS Alliance represents health managers and says the current autism and ADHD care system is a "bad deal" for patients and taxpayers.
- Costs for assessments and care vary widely, with one health board paying between £300 and £3,000 for similar services.
- There has been a big increase in private and charity providers offering services, sometimes causing difficulty in checking care quality and safety.
- An independent government review on autism, ADHD, and mental health services is expected soon, promising a new national plan.
- The NHS has a "right to choose" policy allowing patients to get care from both NHS and non-NHS providers to reduce long waiting lists.
- Spending has increased sharply; one board’s costs rose 10 times in one year to £1.5 million a month.
- Another board’s annual spending jumped from £4 million to £30 million in two years.
- Providers doing only assessments do not have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission, making regulation harder.
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