A new NHS taskforce will tackle the growing burden of ADHD amid a decade-long wait for a diagnosis, officials say.
It will bring together experts from healthcare, education and justice to better understand the impact of the condition and improve care.
NHS England says an initial investigation has identified issues with capacity, drug supply, a lack of reliable data and a postcode lottery in the service.
Record numbers of Brits are believed to be seeking help after celebrities including model Katie Price and Love Island star Olivia Attwood shared their own ADHD trials.
Users also share on social media sites how medication helped them calm down, control their fidgeting and improve their concentration.
Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with ADHD (pictured in 2023)
Fascinating graphs show how the number of ADHD prescriptions has increased over time, with the demographic shift of the patient population from children to adults, with women in particular now driving the increase
The World Health Organization defines attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that one in 20 children (5 percent) and one in 29 adults (3 to 4 percent) have the condition.
But NHS England believes the actual figure could be higher.
It says it can’t say how many people have a diagnosis or are waiting for an assessment because it doesn’t have a consistent and complete data set.
However, ADHD was the second most viewed health condition on the NHS website in 2023, after Covid-19, with 4.3 million page views during the year.
Former Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins (left) said last year that she was diagnosed and that ‘everything suddenly made sense – to me and those who love me’. Love Island’s Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD left her ‘constantly overwhelmed’
Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the ‘early stages’ of working with medication after being diagnosed with ADHD. Ben Fogle (right), who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD following a ‘recent mental health storm’
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board warned in board documents last July of ‘exceptionally high waiting times’ for ADHD assessment and treatment of ’10 years+’.
And a separate study in the same month found that children in Coventry and Warwickshire wait an average of 142 weeks (almost three years) for all neurodiverse first appointments, including ADHD and autism.
Meanwhile, NHS data shows that more than 230,000 people in England are now taking medicines to manage their condition, with prescriptions increasing by 5 per cent in a year.
NHS England announced the launch of the ADHD Taskforce at its board meeting this afternoon, saying it hoped to improve data collection and care.
The Taskforce members and terms of reference will be published in the coming weeks and a report is expected later this year.
Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, said: ‘NHS staff across the country are working hard to ensure that all patients who need assessments and further support from ADHD services are seen as quickly as possible.
‘We have recognized that more needs to be done to ensure people can receive a timely diagnosis and, importantly, that all their needs are met.
‘This is hugely complex work and this taskforce will need to consult a wide range of partners and experts to understand more about the issues affecting people with ADHD and how services can be better joined together to meet needs of people today and in the future. the future.
‘This is a vital first step in helping us achieve real improvements in the ADHD services provided by the NHS and the independent sector.’
Henry Shelford, CEO of ADHD UK, said he was celebrating the announcement, which he described as a ‘big deal’.
He said there are 2.6 million people with ADHD in Britain, with waiting lists for adults ranging from 12 weeks to 10.5 years and those for children from 5 weeks to 5 years.
Henry added: “We have hope that we didn’t have and it’s great.
‘Until recently, NHS England didn’t even have one person responsible for ADHD, so announcing a taskforce is a glorious tectonic change.
‘Entire life trajectories are changed by the waiting lists for ADHD care. In the current status quo, lives are being ruined and lost.
“This task force represents the potential for the revolutionary change that is critically needed.”
Steve Russell, Chief Delivery Officer at NHS England, said: ‘Based on the findings from the initial assessment, we will improve data collection to help us understand the scale of the challenge and work closely with the new cross-sector taskforce to tackle the improve patient pathways. with ADHD.’
Health Minister Victoria Atkins said: ‘It is crucial that people with ADHD receive not only timely assessment and diagnosis, but also the support they need to live fulfilled lives.
‘We are already exploring opportunities to improve data collection and reporting on assessment wait times, and this new taskforce is critical to supporting this work and ensuring they receive faster, simpler and fairer care.
‘A better understanding of the issues faced by people with ADHD will help us across government and the NHS to tackle these and create long-term solutions.’
Henry added: “We have hope that we didn’t have and it’s great.
‘Until recently, NHS England didn’t even have one person responsible for ADHD, so announcing a taskforce is a glorious tectonic change.
‘Entire life trajectories are changed by the waiting lists for ADHD care. In the current status quo, lives are being ruined and lost.
“This task force represents the potential for the revolutionary change that is critically needed.”
Actress Sheridan Smith is one of the latest in a line of celebrities to share their diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The 42-year-old, who shot to fame in The Royle Family as Antony’s girlfriend Emma, told the story Fashion that it helped her “understand a lot of things” in her life and better understand her “background noise in her brain.”
Other celebrities who have been diagnosed with ADHD include Sue Perkins, Johnny Vegas and Ben Fogle.