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this NHS Spending too much on ADHD (ADHDAccording to a report by an independent think tank, the annual cost of services is £164 million.
Demand for ADHD assessment surges understanding of illness added, left NHS services overwhelmed More than half a million people are now waiting to be assessed.
In response to demand, NHS has referred patients Private companies providing ADHD services. As a result, over the past three years, health services There has been heavy reliance on private companies to provide these services.
this ResearchCenter for Health and Public Interest (CHPI) reveals unplanned additional private expenditure “Threatens to undermine the financial stability of local NHS services” and take money away from those who need it most.
Experts also warn that assessments provided by private providers can be unreliable.
According to CHIP, 19 companies provided £1.9 million worth of ADHD services to NHS patients over three years, but there was no evidence of contracts with the NHS.
In addition, 14 companies providing £3.5m worth of ADHD services to NHS agencies are not registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The findings come after Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a review into whether mental health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are overdiagnosed and whether there are gaps in support.
The report shows that spending on ADHD services is expected to reach £314 million by April 2026, more than double the £150 million budgeted for that year.
The figures cover 32 of England’s 42 integrated care boards (ICBs), raising concerns that other services may face cuts to offset overspending.
Nineteen ICBs have also provided figures on how much of their ADHD budgets go to private companies, showing spending has more than tripled in three years, from £16.3m in 2022-23 to £58m last year.
Many adult ADHD services on the NHS have stopped accepting new patients due to high demand. As a result, some people seeking diagnosis are turning to private health providers through the option route, bypassing long local waiting lists.
However, the report warns that the options system “should be scrapped” and that it is particularly easy to access. It explained that “choice” rules prevent local NHS bodies from requiring private companies to obtain authorization before providing care to patients, and ICBs must pay invoices sent by private companies for services they may not deem necessary or affordable.
As a result, they prevent the NHS from planning care for local populations and exacerbate existing health inequalities, the report adds.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “No one with ADHD should have clear clinical supervision or feel in the dark about their care. We have launched an independent review to examine how ADHD, mental health and autism services are delivered to help ensure patients get the right support.
“All providers, including those in the independent sector, must meet the same patient safety and quality standards as the NHS. If shared care arrangements cannot be agreed, responsibility for prescribing and ongoing supervision remains with the professional clinician, whether NHS or private.”
An NHS spokesman said: “We know that patients are waiting too long for an ADHD diagnosis. NHS England commissioned an independent ADHD working group to consider how to improve care and service models, and we are carefully considering the recommendations of their recent report.
“As we continue to work towards putting ADHD services on a more sustainable footing, all patients have the legal right to choose a clinically suitable provider to deliver their care – as with any contractor, providers must meet the standards set out by local NHS contractual agreements, legislation and regulations set out by the CQC, GMC and NICE guidance.
“NHS England is currently consulting on non-compulsory guide prices to help local systems agree on appropriate reimbursement for these services.”