(UK) NHS overspends $220M a year on ADHD
- The end of childhood
- Jan 14
- 1 min read
Jan 13, 2026, Independent: NHS overspending by £164m [$220M] a year on ADHD, report reveals
A think tank report reveals spending on ADHD services is estimated to reach £314m [$422M] by April 2026 - more than double the annual budget
The NHS is overspending on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services by £164m [$220M] a year, according to a report by an independent think tank.
Demand for ADHD assessments have soared as awareness of the condition has increased, leaving NHS services overstretched with more than half a million people now waiting for an assessment.
To cope with demand, the NHS has been referring patients to private companies providing ADHD services. As a result, over the past three years, the health service has become heavily dependent on private companies to deliver these services.
The research, by the Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI), revealed the unplanned extra private spending “threatens to undermine the financial stability of local NHS services” and take funds away from those most in need.
Experts have also warned that assessments provided by private providers can be unreliable.
“An ADHD assessment is complex, and unregulated clinics may vary in quality or thoroughness. Misdiagnosis can have real consequences, both for people who are inaccurately diagnosed and for those whose needs aren’t properly identified, so careful oversight and professional standards are very important,” Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic told the Independent.
According to the CHIP, report 19 companies provided £1.9 million [$2.6M] worth of ADHD services to NHS patients over a three-year period where there was no evidence of a contract with the NHS. . . .
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