Streeting Says Nhs 'falling Short' On Autism And Adhd

The Health Secretary has admitted nan NHS is "falling short" connected gathering request for big autism and ADHD diagnosis.

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, he was responding to a mobility astir big referrals having been paused successful Oxfordshire since 2024.

But he said it was a nationalist rumor that he was "very worried about".

When asked if it was an pandemic nan authorities was failing to header with, he responded "in a nutshell, yes".

Streeting said: "We're trying to, arsenic a government, understand what's driving this increase.

"Is it simply consciousness and a affirmative consciousness that intends that group who would person conscionable gone unsupported and undiagnosed are conscionable now realising that they whitethorn good person ADHD?

"And past secondly, gathering nan request because we're really falling short connected this successful nan NHS, truthful we are looking astatine this nationally."

Streeting launched an independent review past twelvemonth into rising request for intelligence health, ADHD and autism services successful England.

It is looking astatine whether location is grounds of over-diagnosis and what gaps successful support exist.

The authorities said it was already investing successful expanding services, but location are agelong waits for therapy successful galore areas.

Oxford Health said successful February 2024 that owed to an "unprecedented number" of adults being referred to its ADHD service, it had paused each caller referrals.

It said successful a statement: "We paused our work successful 2024 successful bid to decently and safely negociate a backlog of referrals.

"Since then, successful summation to assessing these referrals, we person been moving pinch [the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board] to creation a work for nan Thames Valley."

Kingswood, which runs autism assessments and test successful nan county, made nan aforesaid determination successful November 2024.

It has been approached for a comment.