ADHD assessment waiting times in the UK: what the numbers actually say

Almost a million NHS referrals in England may be for an ADHD assessment, and some people wait years. Here is what NHS England's data does and doesn't tell us, and what you can do while you wait.

Search for ADHD waiting times and you'll find very confident averages. The honest picture is messier. Here is what the official data actually shows, what it doesn't, and what you can do about it.

What NHS England publishes

NHS England publishes ADHD Management Information. In its August 2026 release, which reports June 2026 figures:

• ✓There were up to 959,662 open referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment in England. Of these, 780,430 were recorded in the Mental Health Services Data Set and up to 179,232 in the Community Health Services data.
• ✓Up to 37,105 new referrals were received in June 2026, which is 46.7% more than in June 2025.
• ✓NHS England estimates that around 2,478,000 people in England have ADHD, including people without a diagnosis.

Two cautions apply. The figures say "up to" because the data can't always separate ADHD referrals from other referrals, and they cover adults and children together. NHS England also notes that data from February 2025 onwards isn't directly comparable with earlier months, because independent providers began submitting data and that increased the number of open referrals.

How long are the waits?

The publication doesn't give a single national waiting time, so be wary of any precise "average wait" you see quoted, including on clinic websites. What the independent ADHD Taskforce report said is that some people wait more than two years for an assessment, and that in some areas waits have grown to between 10 and 15 years. Waits vary a great deal between areas, and ICB-level data is available on NHS England Digital.

This data covers England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own services and publish their own information.

Why it matters

The Taskforce linked long waits with worse outcomes for some people, including deteriorating mental health. It recommended that people get clear information about waiting times, support while they wait, and connection to peer support. Waiting without support is the part most worth trying to change.

What you can do

• ✓Ask for specifics. Contact your GP or the provider and ask where you are on the list and what the expected wait is in your area.
• ✓Use Right to Choose if you're in England. It lets you ask to be referred to an NHS-funded provider, some of which have shorter waits. Here is how it works.
• ✓Consider a private assessment. Waits vary by clinic and we show them where clinics provide them. You can filter by maximum wait in our clinic directory, and here is what it costs.
• ✓Use what's open to you now. Support without a diagnosis includes workplace help and free peer groups, and this guide covers what to do while on the NHS list.

If you're still working out whether an assessment is right for you, our free 3-minute screener is a starting point, and our directory lists accredited private ADHD clinics across the UK.