Since 2019, demand for ADHD diagnosis has rocketed, and referral rates quickly outstripped NHS service capacity. Waiting times increased substantially, with reports of several years’ wait in some areas. The Right to Choose policy, which allows NHS patients to access treatment from private providers if they wish, has facilitated large-scale referrals to private companies funded by the NHS.
Private companies, seeing an opportunity, have moved into the sector to offer diagnostic and assessment services. The choice rules require NHS commissioners to fund treatment with a private provider if it has a contract with at least one ICB.
Full article in The Lowdown, 12 February 2026
