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Ministers must urgently tackle the “unacceptably long” waiting lists for ADHD services in England as the rise of unregulated private clinics has created a “two-tier” care system, an independent task force has warned.
“Significant growth” in the use of private clinics had created “one [system] for those who can pay and another for those who cannot”, the body set up by the NHS said in its interim report published on Friday.
The task force said the NHS needed to “shift rapidly” to a new “accessible, regulated and generalist” model of care for ADHD — or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder — a neuro-developmental condition characterised by persistent inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
The number of privately prescribed items of ADHD medication reached a record high of 64,664 in February 2025, a freedom of information request by the Financial Times revealed.
The figure represents an annual increase of 73 per cent and is 45 times higher than a decade ago.
The findings come after NHS data in May showed that only a third of the estimated 2.5mn people in England with ADHD are thought to have a diagnosis.
The task force underlined the need to uncouple non-pharmacological support from diagnosis, as current NHS waiting times for assessments in some areas exceed eight years for adults and four years for children.
It added that if unsupported, ADHD was “a potent route” into educational failure, long-term unemployment, crime and illness, calling for “immediate action” across government to invest in a model that prioritised early-years support.
Untreated ADHD costs the UK economy about £17bn a year from lower tax contributions and higher spending on public services, according to estimates based on 2019 research by Danish academics.
The task force’s final report is expected later this summer. The Department of Health and Social Care said the findings provided “valuable insights” and would “carefully consider” the recommendations.
Dr Adrian James, NHS England’s medical director for mental health and neurodiversity, said he welcomed the report, adding that it is “clear that much more needs to be done” to improve services.
