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Spotlight on ADHD: New Data Reveals Scale and NHS Ramps Up Response
- Schoen Clinic UK
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Author: Dr James Woolley, Consultant Psychiatrist and Group Medical Director, Schoen Clinic UK. 4 June 2025.
Recent developments in May 2025 have cast a renewed spotlight on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the UK. New estimates indicate the significant scale of ADHD prevalence, while NHS England has launched strategic initiatives to improve data collection and service provision. These updates, coupled with ongoing refinements in clinical guidance, mark a crucial period for enhancing ADHD care across the nation.
Understanding the Scale: A National Snapshot
This past month, striking new figures emerged suggesting that almost 2.5 million people in England may be affected by ADHD. This is the first time such a comprehensive public estimate of the condition's prevalence has been made available, underscoring the widespread nature of ADHD and the urgent need for accessible and effective support services.
The challenges in accessing these services are highlighted by recent waiting time data. For example, in Birmingham, the average wait from referral to a child's first ADHD assessment in April 2025 was approximately 15 months, with a further wait to around 18 months for a diagnosis appointment. These figures illustrate the high demand currently placed on neurodevelopmental pathways.
NHS England's ADHD Strategy: Enhancing Data and Service Delivery
In a significant move to address these challenges, NHS England published a new ADHD data improvement plan in late May 2025. This plan outlines a roadmap for enhancing the quality of data and introducing regular, comprehensive reporting on ADHD services. The long-term vision is to establish accurate national data covering all aspects of the ADHD pathway, from initial referral through to treatment outcomes. This data aims to be linkable, consistently defined, and straightforward for providers to collect.
Key aspects of this initiative include:
Improved Reporting: Commencing in May 2025, reporting will cover the number of individuals awaiting ADHD assessments, those with an ADHD diagnosis, and overall prevalence rates.
Future Data Expansion: From Autumn 2025, reporting is expected to expand to include re-referrals, the number of assessments undertaken, and diagnosis rates. Looking further ahead to 2026, NHSE plans to explore options for retrieving and reporting data on other conditions which occur along with ADHD in individuals.
Guidance for Providers: Technical guidance on data recording, completeness, and quality is set to be issued for implementation by Autumn 2025, aiming to standardise and improve the data submitted by healthcare providers.
This data-driven approach is vital for understanding patient experiences, enabling targeted service improvements, and supporting efforts to tackle health inequalities in ADHD care.
Refining Clinical Guidance and Advancing Research
Alongside these systemic changes, clinical guidelines continue to be refined. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline (NG87) on ADHD diagnosis and management, which covers children, young people, and adults, was last reviewed in May 2025, ensuring that recommendations for recognition, diagnosis, and management remain current.
The scientific understanding of ADHD also continues to advance. Recent attention has been drawn to the work of researchers like Professor Barbara Franke, a molecular psychiatrist who is making significant contributions to redefining the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD.
Moving Forward
These recent developments signal a concerted effort to better understand, diagnose, and manage ADHD in the UK. While challenges related to waiting times and service capacity persist, the focus on robust data collection and the ongoing refinement of clinical guidelines provide a strong foundation for improving outcomes for individuals with ADHD and their families.
For us at Schoen Clinic, staying abreast of these changes is crucial for providing the best possible care and support. As new data becomes available and service pathways evolve, collaborative efforts across healthcare - with the independent sector increasingly support the NHS, education, and community services will be essential in meeting the needs of this significant population.
At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, our team of ADHD specialists offer full and comprehensive ADHD assessments for children and adults.
Contact our team for more information or support today.
About the author: Dr Woolley
Dr James Woolley is a highly experienced Consultant Psychiatrist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, with particular expertise in treating mental health conditions that overlap with physical illness.
Trained at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, he combines evidence-based medication with psychological therapies such as CBT.
Dr Woolley also holds Fellowships with both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians, and has published widely in leading scientific journals.
