Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Children
(asked on 17th November 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of compliance by GP practices with their obligations under (a) NICE guideline NG87, (b) the Equality Act 2010 and (c) section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 in relation to children with ADHD or autism.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and part of their responsibility is for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources.
NICE guidelines provide recommendations on best practice in terms of both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions and services. Although not mandatory, guidelines describe best practice and NHS organisations are expected to take them fully into account in designing services to meet the needs of their local populations.
In terms of the guidance NG87, which is on the diagnosis and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the NICE guideline does not recommend a maximum waiting time for people to receive an assessment for ADHD or a diagnosis, although it does set out best practice on providing a diagnosis. As stated in the Medium Term Planning Framework, all integrated care boards and providers must optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for autism and ADHD assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published, including NICE guidelines. The Medium Term Planning Framework is available at the following link:
Under the Equality Act 2010, health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that people with disabilities are not disadvantaged. To make it easier for everyone to use health services, NHS England published guidance for NHS commissioners and providers in July 2025. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/health-inequalities-equality-legal-duties/
NHS England is rolling out the Reasonable Adjustments Digital Flag, which helps healthcare and social care providers identify and implement necessary adjustments for disabled people including autistic people and people with ADHD. This tool support care teams to be aware of individual needs, facilitating appropriate care.
On the duty to secure special education provision and health care provision in accordance with education, health and care plans, if the plan specifies health care provision, the responsible commissioning body must arrange the specified health care provision for the child or young person. According to the Children and Families Act 2024 section 42, an education, health and care plan will specify the health care provision, the responsible commissioning body, referred to as the integrated care board, and must arrange the specified health care provision for the child or young person.