Statement on the Closure of NHS ADHD Services
Issued by DGH Neurodivergent Consultancy: 6 November 2025
DGH Neurodivergent Consultancy expresses grave concern regarding recent reports that adult ADHD services across England are closing access to new patients due to high demand and lack of capacity.
It is our position that closing access to such vital services, rather than addressing the root causes of underfunding and understaffing, is both unethical and unsafe. Restricting entry to care pathways for ADHD, a neurocognitive style that can profoundly affect a person’s quality of life via the barriers they experience, risks exacerbating crises that are already deeply entrenched across the neurodivergent community.
ADHD diagnosis and access to appropriate medication and support can save lives. Research consistently demonstrates that timely diagnosis and treatment reduce risks of suicide, substance use, criminalisation, and social exclusion. Furthermore, when individuals receive the support they need, they are more likely to engage in employment, education, and community life, contributing meaningfully to society and improving overall wellbeing.
To close waiting lists is to abandon those already marginalised by systemic neglect. The ethical response to growing demand is not to restrict access, but to expand capacity. This requires immediate and coordinated action by both the UK Government and NHS leadership to allocate additional resources, fund new roles, and invest in the development of neurodivergence-competent services capable of meeting the real and rising needs of the population.
We urge policymakers to:
Recognise ADHD as a legitimate and urgent area of healthcare need.
Provide sustainable funding and training to ensure services can meet demand safely and effectively.
Embed neurodivergence competence throughout all tiers of NHS provision, from primary care to specialist services.
Include Autistic and ADHD-led organisations in planning, policy, and commissioning processes.
The demand for ADHD services reflects not a crisis of over-diagnosis, but the long-term consequences of historic neglect. People are finally recognising themselves in the language of neurodiversity: and they deserve a healthcare system ready to meet them with understanding, compassion, and competence.
At DGH Neurodivergent Consultancy, we remain committed to supporting organisations and professionals to develop neurodivergence-competent practice. We call on decision-makers to do the same. Not through exclusion, but through investment in inclusion.
For professional training, consultancy, or partnership in building neurodivergence-competent systems, you can view my services page and my upcoming webinars and courses.
For more in depth discussion of this issue you can view my articles on substack.
Article On DGH ND Consultancy Substack
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