NHS ADHD spending over budget by £164m as unregulated clinics boom

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Sarah Marsh, Carmen Aguilar García and Rachel HallJanuary 12, 2026 at 07:00 PM

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long article 4 min

A Guardian investigation reveals the NHS is overspending on ADHD services by £164 million annually, with costs projected to reach £314 million by 2026, more than double the allocated budget. This overspend is partly attributed to a surge in reliance on private ADHD assessment providers, whose services have more than tripled in cost over three years. Concerns are rising about the reliability and regulation of these private assessments, potentially harming patients due to poor continuity of care. Increased awareness and stretched NHS resources have led to record demand for ADHD assessments, leaving over half a million people waiting. The situation has prompted a government review and warnings that unregulated private companies are profiting significantly while NHS services are at a breaking point.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

England 40% Care Quality Commission 40% Jo Platt 50% Guardian ×250% Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI) 50% Wes Streeting 60% NHS ×690% Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ×1295%

Keywords

adhd 100% nhs 90% overspending 80% private adhd services 80% unregulated clinics 70% assessment 60% mental health 60% budget 50% healthcare 50% outsourcing 40%