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3w ago

NHS data show 2.5 million likely have ADHD in England, 549,000 on waiting lists

Soaring referrals alongside waits of up to two years have prompted NHS England to establish a taskforce to tackle ADHD assessment backlogs.

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It is estimated that 741,000 children and young people between the ages of five and 24 have ADHD

Overview

  • NHS England estimates 2,498,000 people in England may have ADHD, representing about 5% of the population, including 741,000 aged 5–24 and 147,000 under five.
  • At the end of March 2025, 549,000 people were awaiting an ADHD assessment, up from 416,000 a year earlier.
  • Among those on the waiting list, 304,000 have been waiting at least one year and 144,000 for two years or more.
  • Adult referrals stood at 165,000 at the end of March 2025, more than ten times the pre-pandemic figure of 16,000 in December 2019.
  • To address mounting backlogs and extended waits, NHS England has launched an independent taskforce to review service challenges and recommend improvements.