Autism and ADHD care complaints more than triple in five years in England

NHS ombudsman warns of years-long waits and patients paying thousands to go private as demand for services soars

Autism and ADHD care complaints more than triple in five years in England

TL;DR

  • Complaints about autism and ADHD services in England have more than tripled in five years.
  • Referrals and waiting lists for these services have also increased significantly.
  • Patients are facing years-long waits, leading some to pay thousands for private care.
  • Issues include confusion over the right to choose providers and inconsistent diagnosis recognition.
  • The NHS ombudsman emphasizes the system's complexity and inconsistency.
  • A government review led by Professor Peter Fonagy is examining ADHD, autism, and mental health support.