Children Wait Long for Neurodevelopmental Diagnoses in England

A report by the Children’s Commissioner highlights that approximately 400,000 children in England are waiting for diagnoses of neurodevelopmental conditions, with average wait times of over two years and three months. Notably, 23% of children with ADHD and 15% of those with autism wait more than four years for a diagnosis. The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has stopped accepting new ADHD referrals due to a waiting list of 4,500, projecting waits could exceed ten years for new patients. The report urges an overhaul of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, emphasizing the need for early identification and more efficient support services. Families report feeling exhausted in their efforts to secure necessary support, often resulting in legal action to obtain care. The findings underscore a nationwide crisis in mental health and community health services regarding the support of children with these conditions.