You want to know what this means for you.
Whether your assessment is still going ahead.
Whether you should still seek help.
Whether anything changes for you or your child.
This guide explains what this review changes and what it does not change for people seeking assessment and diagnosis, including adult ADHD assessments through the NHS or privately.
It is about clarity, reassurance, and clinical reality.
Before you read further
It may help to be clear about one thing first.
This review does not stop ADHD or autism assessments.
It does not remove access to diagnosis.
It does not invalidate ADHD or autism.
If you are seeking help through your GP, the NHS, or a private assessment, no changes have been announced that pause or stop assessments. Your pathway forward remains open.
If you are based in Scotland
This government review applies to health services in England only.
Health policy is devolved across the UK. ADHD and autism services in Scotland are planned and funded by the Scottish Government and delivered through NHS Scotland, rather than NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care.
If you are based in Scotland:
- This review does not change diagnostic criteria or access rules
- ADHD and autism assessments continue to follow established clinical guidance
- Local pathways and waiting lists are managed separately from England
If you are in Scotland and currently waiting for assessment, this review does not affect your place on the waiting list.
That said, the issues behind the review will feel familiar to many people in Scotland.
Scottish services are also experiencing:
- Rising demand for neurodevelopmental assessment
- Long waiting times for ADHD and autism diagnosis
- Pressure on clinical teams and diagnostic capacity
These challenges are widely recognised across NHS Scotland.
The key point is this:
While the policy review itself is England-specific, the clinical questions it raises – how to manage rising demand, reduce harmful waiting times, and ensure robust, high-quality assessment – are relevant across the UK.
Good practice principles remain shared:
- Comprehensive, criteria-based assessment
- Appropriate clinical thresholds for diagnosis
- Multi-disciplinary input where needed
- Early support alongside diagnostic pathways
If you are short on time or feeling overwhelmed
You may want to jump to:
- What this review changes and what it does not change
- Frequently asked questions about ADHD assessment and diagnosis
You can return to the rest later.
What has been announced and why
The government has commissioned an independent review into the rising demand for mental health services, ADHD assessment, and autism assessment in England.
The review will look at:
- Whether referral, assessment, and diagnosis pathways are working as intended
- Where gaps exist in diagnosis, early support, and ongoing care
When headlines use the term “over-diagnosis”, this does not mean denying ADHD symptoms or lived experience.
It refers to whether some people are being referred into long diagnostic pathways when earlier support, clearer triage, or different services might be more appropriate.
The review is being led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist, and is expected to report in summer 2026.
Its stated aim is to take a strictly clinical, evidence-based approach, informed by clinicians, patients, and families.
What the data actually shows about ADHD and autism assessment
Headlines often focus on rising numbers.
The data shows a more nuanced picture.
NHS Digital reports that the number of adults with an ADHD diagnosis recorded in primary care in England increased by 165 per cent between 2019 and 2023.
Referrals for adult ADHD assessment more than tripled over the same period, particularly among women aged 25 to 39.
At the same time:
- Over 5 million people are now in contact with NHS mental health services each year
- Mental health prevalence is highest among young adults and unemployed people
- More than 143,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment, with average waits exceeding 14 months
Recent BBC investigations have also highlighted waiting times of up to eight years in some NHS areas, which helps explain why many people seek clarity and assessment outside traditional pathways.
This reflects real demand, increased awareness, and long-standing system strain.
It does not mean people are seeking a diagnosis without cause.
Why “over-diagnosis” is a misleading shortcut in ADHD diagnosis
Not everyone referred for an ADHD diagnostic assessment will receive an ADHD diagnosis.
That is not a failure.
That is how proper assessment should work.
Many conditions can look similar to ADHD, including anxiety, trauma, depression, learning differences, and sleep or stress-related difficulties.
A structured diagnostic assessment by a qualified clinician helps clarify what is going on and what support is appropriate.
Good assessment protects people from:
- Incorrect or unnecessary medication
- Missed trauma or unmet mental health needs
- Delayed access to the right form of support
The greater clinical risk is not too many diagnoses.
It is a delayed assessment, missed diagnoses, and a lack of appropriate care.
Why quality ADHD assessment matters more than volume
National clinical standards already exist for ADHD assessment and diagnosis.
NICE guidance (NG87) states that ADHD should only be diagnosed following a comprehensive specialist assessment, including:
- Full medical and developmental history
- Evidence that ADHD symptoms were present in childhood
- Clear impairment across more than one setting
- Consideration of differential diagnoses
Symptoms alone are not enough.
Screening tools alone are not enough.
Accurate diagnosis requires clinical judgement from an experienced clinician, often working within a multidisciplinary team.
A good assessment should help you understand yourself or your child, and point to the right support – not just deliver an outcome.
When it may be helpful to seek assessment
Assessment is not about proving a label.
It can be helpful when difficulties are persistent, impair daily life, and are not fully explained by stress, anxiety, or life circumstances alone.
If challenges have been present since childhood and continue to affect work, education, relationships, or wellbeing, a structured specialist assessment can bring clarity, even if a diagnosis is not ultimately given.
NHS waiting lists, GP referrals, and system strain
The review takes place within an overstretched NHS system.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists reports a shortage of around 1,000 consultant psychiatrists in England.
This directly affects NHS ADHD services, autism diagnostic clinics, and complex mental health assessments.
Waiting is not neutral.
Delays affect education, employment, relationships, and mental well-being.
Early assessment and early support reduce long-term harm.
What this review changes and what it does not change
What it does not change
- ADHD and autism remain recognised neurodevelopmental conditions
- You can still seek an ADHD assessment, including adult ADHD assessments
- NHS and private diagnostic pathways still exist
- Clinical standards for diagnosis remain unchanged
What it may change
- How GP referrals are prioritised
- How early support is offered before diagnosis
- How assessment and treatment pathways are organised
- How quality care is defined across services
How to decide what matters to you
If you are already waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment, the most important thing is this: your pathway has not been removed or paused.
It may help to ask yourself:
- Am I waiting without any interim support?
- Do I feel my difficulties are being clearly understood?
- Have alternative explanations been properly explored?
If the answer to any of these is no, it may be worth seeking a clearer assessment or earlier support rather than waiting in uncertainty.
Why early support matters, even before diagnosis
Support does not need to wait for a confirmed diagnosis.
Many people benefit from:
- Practical strategies
- Reasonable adjustments
- Psychoeducation
- Interim support while waiting for assessment
Diagnosis should open doors.
It should not be a gate that blocks care.
Where AADC sits in ADHD assessment and diagnosis
A good assessment should help you understand yourself or your child, and point to the right support.
At the Autism and ADHD Diagnostic Centre, we provide evidence-based assessments aligned with national guidance. Our approach is careful, thorough, and designed to give clarity.
You might find our service helpful if:
- You want a comprehensive, criteria-based assessment rather than a brief screening
- Your situation feels complex, or there are overlapping difficulties
- You value careful differential diagnosis and clinical explanation alongside your outcome
- You want the assessment to lead to appropriate support, not stop at a report
Our assessment process includes:
- Experienced clinicians, including psychiatrists and psychologists
- Structured diagnostic tools
- Review of developmental and medical history
- Multi-disciplinary clinical sign-off
We see diagnosis as part of an ongoing care pathway. Understanding comes first. Support follows.
Frequently asked questions about ADHD assessment and diagnosis
Will ADHD or autism diagnoses stop?
No. Diagnoses continue through NHS and private services.
Does this mean ADHD is overdiagnosed?
The review looks at referral patterns, not denying ADHD or autism.
Will this affect people on NHS waiting lists?
No immediate changes have been announced.
Does this change how ADHD should be diagnosed?
No. NICE guidance remains the standard.
What if I am assessed but not diagnosed?
That outcome can still guide appropriate support.
Does support require a diagnosis?
No. Early support can help even before diagnosis.
What if reading about this feels overwhelming?
That response is understandable. You do not need to process everything at once.
A final word
Public discussion about diagnosis can feel unsettling.
Behind the headlines are real people seeking answers.
This review does not remove ADHD or autism.
It reinforces the importance of accurate diagnosis, timely assessment, and appropriate support.
If you are seeking help, your concerns remain valid.
It is okay to take this one step at a time.
