ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and autism services are failing too many people because of the way they are designed, commissioned, and delivered, as complaints about care continue to rise.
This report shares our findings based on 3,000 complaints. We found recurring issues including uncertainty about patients’ right to choose a provider, inconsistent recognition of diagnoses across NHS and independent providers, and lengthy waits for assessment and treatment.
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Details of the report
ADHD and autism affect how people think, learn and experience the world. Getting a diagnosis and the right support can make a huge difference to someone's education, work and wellbeing.
Many people trying to access ADHD and autism services face long waits, unclear information about their choices, and inconsistent care depending on where they live. This can leave people without the diagnosis or support they need for months or even years, affecting their education, work and mental health.
In this report, we look at the complaints people have brought to us about ADHD and autism services, to understand what is going wrong and why. We have seen a sharp rise in the number of people contacting us about these issues, more than 200% over the past four years.
We share case summaries showing the impact these problems have had on people's lives, and set out what needs to change so services work better for everyone.
We've also created a diagram which shows the system challenges and long-term shifts in ADHD and autism care (PDF, 350KB)