Daniel Wolfram
A new report suggests that sweeping changes for diagnosing ADHD and autism are needed.
England’s system for handling autism and ADHD needs a radical overhaul.
According to a new landmark report, the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom is failing its citizens with autism and ADHD.
An official review commissioned by former Health Secretary Wes Streeting found thousands of patients are trapped on massive waiting lists while crucial support remains locked behind a formal diagnosis.
Enormous waiting list
By December 2025, there were up to 560,000 people on the waiting lists for ADHD assessments – over 17 times higher than in 2019. At the same time, more than 254,000 individuals had open autism referrals.
The authors warned that this bottleneck increases the risk of misdiagnosis. Giving someone the wrong label can lead to incorrect treatments, like prescribing antidepressants to a lonely student who actually needs social connection.
“Having ADHD- or autism-related traits does not necessarily mean someone has a diagnosable condition,” the authors said, according to The Independent.
Growing social pressure
The spike in demand reflects an increase in mental health struggles all over Britain. Official figures show 22.6 per cent of working-age adults had a reported mental health disorder in 2024, up from 15.5 per cent in 1993.
Report co-chair Dr Peter Fonagy pointed to real strain on young people, including housing stress and economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, social media has also made mental health a huge topic of conversation and has helped de-stigmatise it.
At the same time, private clinics have filled the void left by state services. Prices for private ADHD assessments jumped 252 per cent in three years despite a troubling lack of oversight.
No more gatekeeping
Health experts welcomed moving away from diagnosis gatekeeping. Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said: “Moving towards a system based on people’s needs is sensible, but it can only work if support is actually there for people who need it.”
Meanwhile, other experts urge caution about proposals to prioritise only the most severe cases.
Dr Rachel Moseley from Bournemouth University warned that rationing diagnoses could harm neurodivergent adults whose differences are less obvious but who still face severe risks, including suicide.
