Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether neurodivergence can be treated medically.

Neurodivergent conditions are often life-long and cannot be cured. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments and support, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE guidelines on autism cover the different ways that health and care professionals can provide support for autistic people and aim to improve access and engagement with interventions and services.

On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people and adults referred to an autism assessment service. The guidance also sets out what support should be available before an assessment and what support should follow a recent diagnosis of autism based on the available evidence.

With respect to ADHD, the NICE guidelines for ADHD diagnosis and management explain the key considerations for clinicians when deciding whether to offer treatment, including in respect of medicine or therapy. NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is working to bring together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sectors. The taskforce is working to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support, with the final report expected to make recommendations in the summer.