Complaints about autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services in England have more than tripled in five years, official figures show, with the NHS ombudsman warning of years-long waits and patients paying thousands of pounds for private care.
One woman was removed from an ADHD medication waiting list without warning after almost four years, leaving her without the support she needed for about six months. Another patient was given an autism assessment lasting just 50 minutes that failed to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, while a man referred to an ADHD service that was not yet operational ended up paying almost £4,000 for private treatment.
Complaints rose from 410 in 2021-22 to 1,257 in 2025-26, an increase of more than 200%, as referrals and the number of people waiting for assessment, treatment and support also increased.
The parliamentary and health service ombudsman, Paula Sussex, said ADHD and autism services were “under significant pressure, with demand outstripping capacity”, adding: “While commissioning cannot solve these supply constraints, the way services are designed, commissioned and delivered can compound the pressure people experience and make it harder to make the best use of available resources.”
She said: “Right now, the system is too complex and inconsistent, leaving too many patients falling through the gaps.”
A report, called Improving ADHD and Autism Services: Commissioning With Confidence, shares the ombudsman’s findings based on 3,000 complaints. It found recurring issues, including uncertainty around patients’ right to choose a provider. Under right to choose, patients in England can choose from eligible NHS-funded providers for certain services, including some independent providers. However, the ombudsman found uncertainty around how this right applied, with patients sometimes being told wrongly that they could not exercise it.
Source: The Guardian, 26 August 2026
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