The Aporia
The Aporia
Place, T. (2026, October 9). ADHD referrals soar in London as government review warns of overdiagnosis. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/adhd-referral-london-government-review-nhs-england-b1300202.html
Place, Tom. “ADHD referrals soar in London as government review warns of overdiagnosis.” Evening Standard, 9 Oct. 2026, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/adhd-referral-london-government-review-nhs-england-b1300202.html.
Place, Tom. “ADHD referrals soar in London as government review warns of overdiagnosis.” Evening Standard, October 9, 2026. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/adhd-referral-london-government-review-nhs-england-b1300202.html.
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In London, referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments have surged dramatically. In June 2025, 65,120 people in the capital had open referrals for ADHD, but by June 2026, this number had risen to 112,570, marking a 72% increase. Moreover, over 27,000 individuals have been waiting for their assessments for more than two years. In June 2026 alone, there were 37,105 new referrals to mental health services for possible ADHD assessment, up by a staggering 46.7% from the previous year.
The trend is not isolated to London; nationally in England, the number of people waiting for assessments grew from 511,000 in June 2025 to 780,000 by June 2026. A government review, commissioned by then-Health Secretary Wes Streeting, acknowledges that young people are indeed experiencing a genuine rise in mental health issues and emphasizes the need for better support systems.
NHS England estimates that between 3% to 4% of adults and about 5% of children and young people have ADHD. This surge has led to significant backlogs in the healthcare system, highlighting concerns about potential overdiagnosis while also recognizing genuine mental health needs among youth.
