NHS struggling to cope with 'avalanche' of ADHD and autism referrals
More than half of those on the waiting list for assessments are children and teenagers
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More than half of those on the waiting list for assessments are children and teenagers
Nuffield Trust says system for treatment is ‘obsolete’ as number of patients in England awaiting assessment hits record high
ADHD and autism referrals have risen fivefold since the pandemic amid fears that doctors could be over diagnosing the conditions.
Since the pandemic those on the waiting list for autism and ADHD referrals has skyrocketed
The rise in the number of people in England waiting for diagnosis and treatment of autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) demands a rethink of the organisation of services, which should include agencies outside the health and care sector, an analysis by the Nuffield Trust has concluded.1 The number of people with suspected autism waiting to see a specialist in England reached 172 022 in December 2023, the highest ever recorded and a more than fivefold rise since 2019, it found. The average wait between referral and first appointment was nine months, with some areas having ...