Hold a Public Inquiry into pre and post diagnosis ADHD support.

The UK Government has recognised the need to improve NHS care for neurodivergent people, with some waiting for 7 years for assessments.

Despite NICE Guidelines recommending holistic and shared treatment plans for each individual, medication is often the only option provided.

People with ADHD are 5 times more likely to attempt to take their own life.

1 in 4 women with ADHD has attempted to take their own life.

ADHD has only been recognised by NICE since 2008.

Years long lists are leaving people extremely vulnerable to exploitation.

The BBC Panorama episode of 15 May 2023 sensationalised the desperation of people with ADHD into a 29 minute ‘exposé’.

This has left people questioning their diagnosis with no follow up support. The Government must take action.

The Department acknowledges that some people are experiencing long waits for an assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and access to support. We recognise that it is vital that people not only receive a timely assessment and diagnosis, but also that they receive the support they need before and after this in order to live fulfilled lives.

We have no current plans to hold a public inquiry into how ADHD assessments and pre- and post-diagnostic support are managed. The Health and Care Act 2022 requires Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to commission and provide health care services in collaboration with their partner NHS and Foundation trusts, for their population, based on local area needs. It is for ICBs to decide how services are funded in their area. It is a statutory requirement for ICBs to ensure that the public are appropriately involved in planning, proposals and decisions with regard to the commissioning arrangements for health services.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the organisation that provides guidelines for assessing and managing ADHD (‘Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87’). NICE guidelines are developed by experts based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and extensive engagement with interested parties. They represent best practice and healthcare professionals are expected to take NICE’s guidelines fully into account in the care and treatment of individual patients. NICE guidelines were updated in 2019 to highlight the importance of recognising ADHD in women and girls. NICE keeps its guidelines under active surveillance to ensure they reflect changes in the evidence base and clinical practice.