Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Service

Our capacity to complete initial diagnostic assessments is currently limited to between 16-20 assessments per month. This is because we are a small team, and we have to perform a range of other clinical tasks on a regular basis. These include, but are not limited to:

• assessing and initiating individuals’ medication regime,
• undertaking annual medication reviews,
• delivering non-medicalised treatment groups.

Our goal is to increase capacity to undertake more initial assessments, and we are currently exploring alternative ways of delivering the service to be able to do this.

During the ‘pause’ to referrals we will only accept new referrals where the service users clinical need meets the level of risk and complexity to be accepted by secondary mental health services. For example, a community mental health team (CMHT) or crisis services. The service remains open to referrals from GPs and from Children and Young Peoples’ Mental Health Services for individuals meeting the urgent criteria.

We’ve been working with our commissioners and other local partners for over a year to try and resolve this without resorting to closing our waiting list. We conducted a waiting list analysis exercise earlier in 2024, which identified around 20% of our waiting list could potentially be discharged. However, this has still left us with just less than 400eople which we cannot assess in a reasonable timescale.

It means we can focus our limited resource on people with the most pressing needs and work our way through the waiting list that way without it getting any larger. It also gives us the time and space to work with Leeds Integrated Care Board and the Leeds GP Confederation on a new assessment and treatment pathway that delivers safe, reliable and effective care that meets demand. We don’t know how long this work will take but we will continue to provide updates on progress.

If you would like to discuss alternative providers, please speak with your GP who can support you with this.

If you have already had an assessment by another provider, or you have decided that you no longer need this service, we would be grateful if you could also email the ADHD Service to let us know.

ADHD assessments for those under 18 registered with a GP in Leeds are carried out by the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team within the Child and Young People’s Mental Health Service – hosted by Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust. Referrals to this service have not been suspended but the service is currently experiencing high demand and long waiting times.

Yes. An assessment or treatment through the Right to Choose pathway replaces treatment under the NHS.

Your GP can support you to access a range of independent providers.

We have increased our team of prescribers, and we are focussing our capacity on those who have a diagnosis and want to start on medication.

Yes. If you have an assessment through the Right to Choose pathway, some providers may also start medication treatment.

During this period, we will be prioritising those on our wait list who have a documented risk to others or themselves and are being supported by other health professionals within the Trust.

If you feel your circumstances have changed since you were first referred, please speak to your GP who can let us know about any change in your circumstances. We will then discuss this as a team to make a decision on priority.

If you need to update us with any new contact details, please email the ADHD Service.

It means we can focus our limited clinical resource on seeing the most urgent cases, whilst at the same time working with partners to develop a new service that can meet the needs of the local population.

We have published loads of information about this on our support while you wait for treatment page.

Unfortunately, we are unable to more specific than the information about waiting times on our website.

If you are struggling and feel that your mental health is suffering, then we would advise you to contact your GP to make them aware of your difficulties. They can then establish what support might be available. Your primary care team will then determine if you need an acute mental health service and can contact us directly if they feel that you need to be seen urgently by our service.

Please speak to your GP to discuss how to access other appropriate providers of this service through NHS Right to Choose.

There is not currently a set limit on the duration of the pause. We are unable to give a specific time in which we expect to reopen.

The pause to non-urgent new referrals will not have a direct impact on you if you are currently awaiting an appointment to discuss ADHD medication.

We have prepared details regarding health strategies and agencies that maybe helpful to you and can be found on the support while you wait for treatment page.

We are unable to offer shared care for new patients unless specific criteria are met regarding risk. GPs have been issued with guidance regarding this.

We are currently paused to non-urgent new referrals and GPs have been issued with guidance regarding our inclusion criteria for referrals.

If you don’t meet these criteria, we would advise you to notify the provider to which you are ultimately referred and request they honour your original waiting time. Providers usually require evidence of this often in the form of an e-mail supplied by the original provider to which you were referred.

We are unable to offer shared care for new patients unless specific criteria are met regarding risk. GPs have been issued with guidance regarding this.

We are currently paused to non-urgent new referrals GPs have been issued with guidance regarding our inclusion criteria for referrals.