Health
Complaints about autism and ADHD services in England triple over five years
A report by the NHS ombudsman highlights lengthy waiting times, a complex commissioning system, and surging demand.
The short version
- Complaints regarding NHS autism and ADHD care in England rose by over 200% between the 2021-22 and 2025-26 fiscal years.
- More than 60% of children and adults currently on waiting lists face delays of over a year, with approximately 562,000 open NHS referrals.
- An ongoing independent review led by Professor Peter Fonagy is expected to issue a final report on support and prevalence later in the summer of 2026.
Key facts
- The number of complaints regarding ADHD and autism services in England rose from 410 in 2021-22 to 1,257 in 2025-26.[The Guardian]
- Parliamentary and health service ombudsman Paula Sussex issued a report based on 3,000 complaints, concluding that the commissioning system is overly complex and inconsistent.[The Guardian]
- The ombudsman found recurring issues where patients were wrongly denied their "right to choose" eligible NHS-funded or independent providers.[The Guardian]
- Open NHS referrals for ADHD and autism support currently stand at roughly 562,000.[The Guardian]
- The ombudsman's office itself has a six-month waiting list due to the spike in incoming complaints.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Autism and ADHD care complaints more than triple in five years in EnglandThe Guardian - World