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<p>It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate
provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access
to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments, in line with relevant
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE guidelines
for ADHD diagnosis and management aim to improve the diagnosis of ADHD, and the quality
of care and support people receive. The NICE guidelines do not recommend a maximum
waiting time standard for ADHD diagnosis, either from referral for an assessment to
receiving an assessment, a diagnosis, or a first contact appointment.</p><p>We know
that children and young people often seek an ADHD diagnosis through Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services. Through the NHS Long Term plan, the Government is investing
record amounts into children and young people’s mental health services.</p><p>There
is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting
times for assessment or treatment for ADHD nationally. The Department is exploring
options to improve data collection and reporting on ADHD assessment waiting times,
to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way, and in line with the NICE
guideline. In support of this, the National Institute for Health and Care Research
Policy Research Programme has commissioned a research project to provide insights
into local ADHD diagnosis waiting time data collection.</p><p>NHS England is establishing
a new ADHD taskforce alongside the Government, to improve care for people living with
the condition. The new taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad
range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education, and justice, to
better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, and help provide a joined-up
approach in response to concerns around rising demand for assessments and support.</p><p>Alongside
the work of the taskforce, NHS England has announced that it will continue to work
with stakeholders to develop a national ADHD data improvement plan, carry out more
detailed work to understand the provider and commissioning landscape, and capture
examples from local health systems who are trialling innovative ways of delivering
ADHD services to ensure best practice is captured and shared across the system.</p>
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