The Leeds Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Service temporarily closed to new referrals from 11 October 2024 in response to unsustainable levels of demand, and to work with partners to develop a new care pathway that meets that demand.
The service currently has a waiting list of around 4,500 people and receives around 170 referrals per month. It is currently resourced to see and assess around 16 people per month. This means the number of referrals it receives is over 10 times the number it can realistically see.
ADHD is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. ADHD affects 2-4% of adults and can cause significant issues for people living with the condition.
Dr Chris Hosker, Medical Director at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know this will be distressing news for those currently on our waiting list, and people in Leeds seeking a diagnosis on the NHS. We apologise sincerely for any anxiety this causes.
“To address this issue, we must be open and honest with patients and the public about our overwhelming challenge. Our ADHD Service’s waiting list will just continue to grow if action is not taken. For example, if someone was to join the waiting list today, it would take well over 10 years for them to be seen.
“We believe it would be unfair and unethical to continue to take referrals. We therefore suspended new non-urgent referrals into our service from 11 October 2024.
“Our plan is to analyse our waiting list and prioritise people with the highest clinical need as quickly as we can. Whilst we are doing this, we will be working with local health and care partners, including the Leeds GP Confederation, to develop a new vision for adult ADHD services in Leeds with the aim of meeting this demand.
“We cannot currently give a timescale on how long this will take, but we will provide regular updates and share details on what this looks like as soon as agreements have been reached.
“Access to NHS ADHD services is a nationwide problem and not just a Leeds problem. Demand for ADHD services has massively increased in recent years, and the NHS has not been funded to meet this demand – with several other NHS services closing to new referrals across England over the last two years.”
