Action needed to address long ADHD waiting lists, warns RCPsych

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The BBC has reported that waiting times for adult ADHD assessments have risen significantly in recent years.

They’ve highlighted the experiences of people who have been affected by these delays and the impact this has had on their lives.

Following the BBC’s investigation, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has highlighted the need to improve the availability of assessments and care for people with ADHD. Additionally, we remind anyone who would like to find out more about ADHD to read our ADHD in adults information resource. 

Dr Jessica Eccles, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry Special Interest Group, said:

“We’re seeing more people than ever seeking support from ADHD services which are struggling to meet this demand. No one should be made to wait years for life-changing care.

“People who receive an accurate ADHD diagnosis and treatment are often able to perform better at university or work and find it easier to manage relationships. Services are doing their best to cope with rising demand, but more must be done to improve access to care.

“The new ADHD taskforce presents an important opportunity to bring together cross-sector expertise and provide joined-up solutions for people living with ADHD. This will need to be supported by targeted investment to help expand ADHD services and increase their capacity to deliver timely assessments and follow-up care.

“In depth ADHD waiting list data can also provide us with valuable insight into the scale of the challenge facing services and the NHS should start consistently publishing relevant datasets to allow the issue to be better understood and effectively addressed.”