Two-year NHS waiting times reveal system’s struggle with rise in ADHD and autism awareness
Summary
The NHS in England faces long waiting times of up to two years for autism and ADHD assessments due to a big increase in referrals. This rise reflects better understanding and awareness of these conditions, but also shows that the health service is struggling with staff shortages and limited resources.Key Facts
- Nearly 1 million people in England are waiting for ADHD assessments, with an average wait of 64 weeks.
- Around 295,000 people are on waiting lists for autism diagnosis.
- Autism diagnoses in males aged 3 to 25 increased from 185 to 580 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2022; in females, it rose from 45 to 320 per 100,000.
- The NHS is a key gateway for accessing medical help, school support, and disability benefits linked to diagnosis.
- A government review noted that unmet needs, misdiagnosis, and concerns about over-medicalization are happening together.
- More young people, especially girls and women who were underdiagnosed before, are now getting diagnosed.
- Increased referrals are influenced by better clinical knowledge, the pandemic, economic insecurity, greater public awareness, and less stigma.
- The final government report to recommend solutions for these NHS challenges is expected soon.
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