Waiting lists for ADHD and autism diagnosis hit crisis point

Scotland has reached a “breaking point” when it comes to support for people with ADHD and autism, the Royal College of Psychiatrists have warned. 

According to research from the Scottish Parliament, over 65,000 people, including 42,000 children are on waiting list for neurodevelopmental assessments. This represents a rise of 2,000 per cent in some areas of the NHS, leaving patients on waiting lists of more than a decade. 

“We’re at breaking point because the scale of the problem now goes beyond what any mental health system in the world could deliver,” said Dr Pavan Srireddy, the vice-chair of the Royal College. “It’s a public health emergency which is leaving thousands with NDCs [neurodevelopmental conditions] on waiting lists with their difficulties worsening, while those with more serious conditions can’t get the help they need.” 

In a paper published by the Royal College, psychiatrists warned that without dedicated services in place, those with ADHD and autism are being forced to turn to general mental health services “not because they have a psychiatric illness, but because there is nowhere else for them to go”.  

Psychiatrists say that this is creating an “unsustainable” amount of pressure on a system that wasn’t designed to meet the needs of so many people.  

As a result, thousands of people across the NHS remain on waiting lists, waiting for appointments that could be five to ten years away. This could lead to those with severe mental illnesses facing delays in accessing the urgent care they need, while the situation for those who need assessments worsens. 

“The stakes are high,” said Srireddy. “People with ADHD are up to five times more likely to die by suicide, while those with autism are nine times at greater risk. Left untreated ADHD can also reduce life expectancy by up to nine years.” 

The document also highlights the estimated cost of autism to the UK to be over £40bn a year, while the cost of untreated ADHD is estimated to sit at £17bn annually. The paper claims this is through “lost productivity, unemployment and pressure on health and justice services.” 

“It is shocking that there are now 65,000 people, including 42,000 children currently waiting to be assessed for neurodevelopmental conditions,” said Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP. “Families should not be left in limbo, including in some cases for more than a decade, before getting support.” 

Carol Stobie lives in East Lothian and discovered she had ADHD aged 60 through a charity that did not require a formal diagnosis. She is now on a ten-year waiting list to get an official diagnosis to confirm that she has ADHD.  

“New thinking is needed all round on how we manage the increase in those coming forward,” Stobie said. “People with ADHD are more likely to experience things like addiction and depression and as someone with lived experience of the condition, I know this is something decision-makers must sort out.”