NHS on the brink as ADHD and autism demand surges, review warns of over‑diagnosis

The government‑backed Fonagy review warns that the NHS is edging toward system failure as demand for ADHD and autism services climbs sharply. It cautions that society may be swapping an era of under‑diagnosis for one of over‑diagnosis.

In England, referrals for autism and new ADHD diagnoses have risen markedly, stretching already stretched resources.

Clinicians report appointment slots filling faster than a bakery’s baguettes, leaving waiting lists to grow and paperwork to pile up.

Experts say the surge could reflect a cultural shift from a "no‑diagnosis" era to a "too‑many‑diagnoses" era, where even the slightest wiggle might be labelled as neurodivergent.

Parents, once relieved to finally receive a diagnosis, now find themselves queuing for services that feel as long as a New Year’s Eve line.

The review calls for a "needs‑led" system – prioritising patients’ actual needs over buzzwords – and urges the government to act swiftly before the NHS collapses into a bureaucracy that only knows how to diagnose.

Until the recommendations are put into practice, the NHS will continue to juggle the growing tide of diagnoses while trying to keep its sanity.