A new report is demanding an urgent overhaul of how ADHD is identified within the NHS, warning that a lack of recognition and support is having devastating consequences for patients.
The Training Gap in General Practice
The ADHD Taskforce has published a stark report recommending that all General Practitioners in England receive enhanced training to spot the signs of ADHD. This initiative aims to address the extensive waiting lists currently plaguing diagnosis and care pathways across the country.
The report highlights a critical gap: unlike with other chronic health conditions, GPs currently have a very limited role in ADHD management. The new recommendations would equip them to conduct initial screenings and make appropriate, timely referrals to specialists.
System Under Strain and the Human Cost
This call for action follows a BBC investigation which revealed that many specialist adult ADHD services are being overwhelmed. Some have stopped accepting new patients entirely, while others have been forced to implement much stricter referral criteria due to unsustainable demand.
Professor Anita Thapar, the chair of the Taskforce, stressed the severity of the situation. She emphasised that ADHD is significantly under-recognised and under-treated in England. Leaving the condition unsupported, she warned, leads to severe long-term health and social consequences. Shockingly, new research indicates that adults with ADHD may die up to 11 years younger than those without the condition.
The Road to a Solution
The Royal College of General Practitioners has expressed support for increasing the involvement of GPs in ADHD care. However, they have issued a strong caveat: any such expansion of their responsibilities must be backed by dedicated funding, comprehensive training, and a fully integrated system to ensure the delivery of safe and effective patient care.
Without this crucial investment and systemic change, the report suggests, the crisis in ADHD services will only deepen, leaving thousands of vulnerable adults without the vital support they need.
