Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in ADHD assessments on children.

We recognise the importance of early identification and timely diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so that an individual’s needs can be identified sooner, and so that appropriate health, social care, and education interventions, advice, and support can be offered.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available the appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including ADHD services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. This includes support for children and young people whilst waiting for an assessment.

We are supporting an independent cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has established to look at ADHD service provision and its impact on patient experience. The taskforce is bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education, and justice, to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, including timely access to services and support. The ADHD taskforce will also work closely with the Department for Education’s neurodivergence task and finish group.