ADHD and autism costs in England ‘running out of control’, NHS leaders warn

Soaring demand for services has led to tenfold increase in spending in a year in some areas, says NHS Alliance NHS leaders have warned that the costs of meeting soaring demand for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism services in England are “running out of control” and have become unsustainable, with spending in some areas rising by as much as tenfold over the course of a year. The NHS Alliance, which represents health managers, said the rise in demand since the coronavirus pandemic was forcing some to close waiting lists and look at reining in other services they provide. One integrated care board (ICB) cited in a report said its monthly spend had risen from £146,000 in 2024-25 to £1.5m last year. Another said spending on adult ADHD services had risen from £11m in 2023-24 to a projected £51m this financial year. Increased demand and a lack of NHS capacity has led to a big influx of new providers, the report said, fuelled by patients’ right to choose which allows people seeking diagnosis for themselves or a child to opt for any qualified provider. One ICB told the NHS Alliance it now had 80 providers on its patch. Another said that two years ago it h