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‘Two years before an assessment’: What new NHS ADHD and autism waits mean for families

‘Two years before an assessment’: What new NHS ADHD and autism waits mean for families

New restrictions mean some children face lengthy waits for ADHD and autism assessments. Here’s what parents can do in the meantime.

Ear Defenders Or Headphones And Fidget Toy To Help Child With ASD Or Autism On Table In School Classroom

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: September 25, 2026 at 9:39 AM

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Families seeking an ADHD or autism assessment could now face a minimum wait of up to two years in some parts of England, as NHS bodies introduce new restrictions to manage soaring demand and costs.

Four NHS integrated care boards (ICBs), which plan and pay for healthcare in their areas, have adopted minimum waiting periods for assessments, according to reports from The Guardian.

More widely, 15 ICBs covering 19 million people have introduced some form of restriction on ADHD and autism assessments, from limiting the number they will fund each year to prioritising people considered to have the most serious needs.

For parents who are already worried about their child's development, communication, sensory needs or experience at school, the prospect of a deliberately imposed minimum wait can be particularly difficult. But while a diagnosis can unlock important help, there are also steps families can take and support they can ask for before an assessment takes place.

What are the new ‘minimum waits’ for ADHD and autism assessments?

A minimum wait means an NHS body sets a period that must pass following a referral before an assessment can take place, rather than the delay simply being the result of a conventional waiting list.

In West Yorkshire, a two-year minimum waiting period has been introduced for people seeking an ADHD or autism assessment from an independent provider funded by the NHS.

The policy covers around 2.4 million people across Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield. West Yorkshire ICB said its spending on such assessments had risen from £7 million in 2023-24 to £21 million last year.

Other areas have introduced different minimum waits. Private providers funded by North East and North Cumbria ICB are working to an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for an initial assessment, while Somerset has a minimum wait of 52 weeks and Devon 14 weeks.

Kent and Medway has also introduced a minimum wait, while Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has restricted assessments to patients meeting priority criteria.

Why are minimum waiting times being introduced?

The NHS is dealing with huge demand for neurodevelopmental assessments. Around 960,000 people in England are currently waiting for an ADHD assessment, while another 295,000 are waiting for an autism assessment, according to figures reported by The Guardian.

Private providers have increasingly been used to increase capacity, carrying out half of NHS-funded ADHD assessments and a third of NHS-funded autism assessments.

Rebecca Gray, director of the NHS Alliance's mental health network, said local NHS leaders were “keenly aware of the deep frustration caused by long delays and are doing all they can to address them.”

“But the need to balance budgets and the pressures of soaring demand have – in some places – led to ‘minimum waits’ or even the closure of some waiting lists.

“The current situation is unsustainable and delivers a bad deal for patients and taxpayers.”

What could a two-year wait mean for children?

One of the biggest concerns is what happens during that potentially lengthy period between a parent raising concerns and their child receiving an assessment.

Mel Merritt, head of policy and influencing at the National Autistic Society, warned that restricting assessments can make it harder for children to get the support they need.

For children, this can mean years of wasted school while they wait for an assessment and further waits to get a plan for support and adjustments to be put into place.

Mel Merritt, head of policy and influencing at the National Autistic Society

A diagnosis can be important for accessing educational and other support. MadeForMums GP Dr Philippa Kaye previously explained: “Having a diagnosis can be useful in terms of being able to access help and support.”

“This might mean that you, with the help of your child's school, can get an EHCP (education, health and care plan), which may come with extra funding that follows your child until the age of 25 to give them the support that they may need in school and beyond.

“It may help you feel that your concerns are validated and help you access both medical and social support, be that from the NHS or from local charities or support groups. For many parents, it can help you feel less alone.”

What should I do if I think my child could be autistic?

If you've noticed differences in your child's development or behaviour, you don't need to wait until things become more difficult before asking for advice.

Possible signs can include:

Less frequent eye contact
Not consistently responding to their name
Limited pointing or gestures to share interest
Distress around particular noises, textures or environments
A strong preference for routines or repetitive play
Delayed speech or different patterns of communication
Finding pretend play difficult
Sensory difficulties around food or mealtimes

None of these traits on its own means that a child is autistic, and autistic children can present in very different ways.

Parents concerned about their child can speak to their GP, health visitor for children under five, or their child's school or nursery SENCO about their concerns and the possibility of a referral.

What can parents do during a long autism or ADHD assessment wait?

Crucially, being on a waiting list doesn't mean doing nothing until an assessment finally arrives.

Nicola Lathey, speech and language therapist, founder and clinical director of The Owl Centre Charity and spokesperson for Waiting Well, recommends keeping detailed records while you wait.

Keep notes on your child’s behaviours, differences and strengths. Specific examples are incredibly useful during an autism assessment.

Nicola Lathey, speech and language therapist

Parents can also collect observations from teachers and carers, note sensory preferences and keep examples of situations their child finds particularly easy or difficult. This can help professionals build a fuller picture when an assessment eventually happens.

At home, visual schedules, predictable routines, movement breaks, quiet spaces and sensory-friendly tools may help some children.

It's also worth speaking to your child's nursery or school about adjustments they could make. You don't necessarily need to wait for a formal diagnosis before asking for support.

Can my child get support without an autism diagnosis?

Yes, some forms of help are based on your child's needs rather than whether they have a formal diagnosis.

Depending on your child's circumstances, this can include:

SEN support at nursery or school
Speech and language therapy or mental health referrals
A social care needs assessment
Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Child Disability Payment in Scotland, which is based on a child's care and mobility needs rather than simply having a diagnosis

Families waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment can also look at the Waiting Well Hub, a National Lottery-funded service launched in 2025 offering free practical and emotional support to families on assessment waiting lists.

With assessment rules now differing considerably depending on where families live, parents should check the current referral and waiting-time arrangements with their local NHS service. And if your child is struggling while they wait, speak to their GP, health visitor, school or SENCO about what support can be put in place now.

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.