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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

NHS limiting ADHD assessments to save money despite soaring demand

A teenage girl plays with a push pop toy while sitting at home. Face not shown.
North Central London ICB said it had introduced indicative activity plans, which cap the number of appointments it will pay for. Photograph: Maskot/Getty

The NHS is restricting people’s ability to be assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in order to save money but not telling GPs or patients, despite soaring demand for the service.

More than half of the NHS’s 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) in England have imposed limits on how many people can be assessed for ADHD during 2025-26, freedom of information responses show.

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