Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to bring down NHS ADHD assessment waiting lists.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, recognising the need for early intervention and support.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The purpose of the review is to provide advice and recommendations to the government on evidence on trends in mental health conditions, ADHD and autism in the population over the last decade, including how these changes have affected demand for NHS mental health, ADHD and autism services, including assessment.

The independent review will inform our approach to enabling people with ADHD to have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to ADHD assessment in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

Through the Medium Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.

NHS England also published management information on ADHD waits at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, and has also issued technical guidance on 3 June 2025 for those who submit ADHD data, to improve recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waits data.