Waiting for an ADHD assessment: what you can do now

How long the wait is

We'll be straight with you: it's long. The NHS says you may have to wait several months or years for an ADHD assessment.

That figure counts referrals, not people. Some are for help with medicine after a diagnosis. Some referrals to private or Right to Choose providers aren't counted.

NHS England counted up to 37,105 new referrals in June 2026, 46.7% more than in June 2025. What the data covers has changed over time, so compare years with care.

For children, a government-commissioned review found the number waiting rose from around 21,000 in April 2019 to around 270,000 by December 2025.

1. Check your place in the queue

• Ask your GP practice which service you were referred to, and when.
• Contact that service to check you're on its list.
• Make sure it has your current address, phone number and email.
• Ask what to do if things get harder while you wait.

NHS England has advised local areas to check that people waiting still want to be seen. It also says people should know how to contact the service if things get worse. If a service gets in touch, reply so it knows you're still waiting.

2. Ask about Right to Choose (England)

The NHS says you may be able to find a clinic with a shorter waiting list through your GP, using Right to Choose.

We haven't found official guidance on moving from a local waiting list to a Right to Choose provider. Ask your GP what's possible. Our Right to Choose guide explains how it works.

3. Get support at work

Access to Work doesn't need a diagnosis. GOV.UK says: "You do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply." It gives ADHD as an example of a condition it can help with.

To apply, you need to be 16 or over, and in paid work or starting within 12 weeks. It covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate scheme.

Access to Work has its own wait. In May 2026, around 60,000 people were waiting for a decision, so it's worth applying early.

Reasonable adjustments

Employers must make reasonable adjustments so workers with disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions, aren't at a substantial disadvantage. The NHS gives examples for ADHD:

• a quieter place to work
• written instructions as well as spoken ones
• help to plan and structure your tasks

Whether you're covered by the Equality Act depends on how much your condition affects your daily life, and for how long. It's decided case by case. The Equality Act doesn't apply in Northern Ireland.

4. Get support at school (England)

The NHS says that while a child waits for an assessment, they should keep getting support at home and in school.

In law, a child has special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability that needs extra support. The law doesn't say a diagnosis is needed. Start by talking to their teacher or the school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO).

New from September 2026: a service called Experts at Hand is starting in England. The government says children won't need a diagnosis to get support from it. It's starting in some areas first.

For advice, GOV.UK says your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can help with special educational needs. Search your council's website for it.

5. Look after yourself while you wait

In England, adults can refer themselves to NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, without seeing a GP. You need to be registered with a GP, and 18 or over (16 in some areas). It's for anxiety and depression, and doesn't give ADHD assessments.

Separately, the NHS ADHD page says talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), may be recommended for adults with ADHD. Your GP can tell you what's available.