We know many people are waiting for an autism and ADHD assessment and may be feeling worried or frustrated. This information is to help explain what is happening, what you can expect and where to get support.
Support for children and young people Support for neurodiverse adults
How can I get an NHS assessment for ADHD and / or Autism?
You need to contact your GP.
Your GP will determine if a referral is clinically appropriate before referring you to a specialist for an autism or ADHD assessment.
Please note that private assessments are not funded by the NHS and different providers may offer different services and follow-up support.
What is Right to Choose?
In England if a GP needs to refer you to a specialist for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the right to choose which service you are seen by.
The right to choose is based on a number of nationally mandated requirements being met.
Your GP must identify that a referral is clinically appropriate and there is national guidance they must follow to do this.
It is important to note that Right to Choose providers are not contracted (paid for and managed) by NENC ICB and are contracted to offer services nationally under an NHS contract which is managed by other commissioning organisations nationally.
Your GP can advise if a Right to Choose referral is right and which Right to Choose providers can best meet your personal needs.
Where can I get a list of Right to Choose providers?
Your GP has an up to date list of providers.
What is the difference between a Right to Choose assessment and an NHS assessment?
The actual assessment and outcome will be similar, there are NICE guidance which must be followed to undertake an assessment, and this will be followed by NHS and Right to Choose providers.
Some Right to Choose providers offer online assessment only.
NHS assessments would usually be undertaken locally by an NHS trust such as CNTW or TEWV – Right to Choose providers are not typically based in our region.
Can Right to Choose providers prescribe ADHD medication?
Some Right to Choose providers can prescribe ADHD medication but this would usually need a shared care agreement with your GP to access the medication via the NHS.
Some Right to Choose providers are able to offer prescriptions depending on their NHS contract.
I have just been referred through Right to Choose – when will I be seen?
Right to Choose referrals remain open and providers should continue to accept eligible referrals.
For 2026/27, providers funded by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) are working to an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for an initial assessment.
If you have only recently been referred, it is therefore unlikely that you will be offered an assessment during the current financial year (2026/27 ending 31 March 2027).
This does not mean your referral has been paused or cancelled. You should remain on your chosen provider's waiting list.
My chosen provider advertises a much shorter waiting time. Why have I been told the wait is approximately 78 weeks?
Right to Choose providers are independent organisations that provide NHS-funded services under the national Right to Choose arrangements. Many also provide private services.
The waiting time advertised on a provider's website may reflect the capacity they have available and does not necessarily represent the waiting time for an assessment funded by NENC ICB.
For NHS-funded assessments in North East and North Cumbria, the ICB has introduced equalised waiting times across the providers we fund for 2026/27, based on an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for initial assessment.
This approach is intended to make access fairer across providers, prioritise people who have already been waiting the longest and ensure the NHS resources available for ADHD and autism assessments are used responsibly.
If you are newly referred, your chosen provider may therefore advertise a shorter waiting time, but you are unlikely to be offered a NENC ICB-funded assessment within that advertised timeframe.
I've already been waiting for a year – does the 2026/27 arrangement mean my wait starts again?
No. Your wait does not start again.
Your waiting time continues from your original referral date.
Providers are being asked to prioritise people who have already been waiting the longest, including people whose waiting time reaches approximately 78 weeks during 2026/27.
My provider has told me the ICB has paused Right to Choose referrals. Is this correct?
No. NENC ICB has not introduced a pause on eligible Right to Choose referrals.
Providers should continue to accept eligible referrals and add people to their waiting lists.
The ICB has introduced Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) for 2026/27. These set out the level of NHS-funded activity planned with each provider across the financial year.
An IAP is not a pause on Right to Choose referrals.
I already have an assessment appointment. Will it be cancelled?
If you already have an assessment appointment booked, we would not routinely expect it to be cancelled because of the ICB's 2026/27 arrangements.
If you have a question about a booked appointment, please contact your chosen provider directly.
My assessment has already started. What happens now?
If your assessment is already underway, we would expect your provider to continue and complete the assessment, rather than introducing a new wait part-way through the process.
Please contact your provider directly if you have questions about the next stage of your assessment.
I've been diagnosed with ADHD and am waiting for medication or titration. What happens to me?
If you have completed your assessment, received an ADHD diagnosis and medication has been clinically recommended, the ICB's approximately 78-week waiting-time approach for initial assessment should not create an additional 78-week wait for medication or titration.
Where medication and titration form part of your provider's NHS-funded pathway, you should progress to this stage in line with the provider's clinical pathway.
Your provider can tell you what happens next and the expected timescale for starting treatment.
What happens if my needs or circumstances change while I'm waiting?
We recognise that people's needs can change while they are waiting.
If you or your family are concerned that your needs have changed or your situation has become more urgent, please speak to your GP or healthcare professional.
Can I change to another Right to Choose provider to be seen more quickly?
You can discuss your choice of provider with your GP. However, changing provider will not mean that you are assessed sooner.
NENC ICB has introduced equalised waiting times across the providers we fund. This is intended to make access fairer and reduce significant differences in NHS-funded waiting times simply because someone has chosen a different provider.
Before changing provider, it is also important to consider the whole pathway. For example, providers may have different arrangements for ADHD medication, titration, prescribing, follow-up and ongoing care.
Who should I contact about my individual referral or waiting-list position?
Please contact your chosen Right to Choose provider directly if you want to know:
North East and North Cumbria ICB does not hold individual provider waiting lists or appointment information and is therefore unable to provide updates on individual referrals.
Does Right to Choose mean I have a right to be seen within a particular timeframe?
No. Right to Choose does not give you a right to be assessed within the waiting time advertised by your chosen provider.
Right to Choose allows eligible patients to choose an appropriate provider for their NHS-funded care, but this does not guarantee an assessment within a particular timeframe.
For ADHD and autism assessments funded by NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, providers are working to an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for initial assessment during 2026/27.
Some Right to Choose providers also offer private, self-funded assessments and may advertise much shorter waiting times for these services. If you choose to pay privately, you may be able to access the provider's private waiting time.
However, if your assessment is being funded by NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB through Right to Choose, the NENC ICB waiting-time arrangements apply. Choosing a provider that advertises a shorter private waiting time does not mean that an NHS-funded assessment will be provided within that timeframe.
This is part of the ICB's approach to equalised waiting times, which aims to ensure that people accessing NHS-funded assessments are treated fairly and that those who have already been waiting the longest are prioritised.
Why has the ICB introduced Indicative Activity Plans and equalised waiting times?
The NHS has a responsibility to provide services within the funding available.
An Indicative Activity Plan (IAP) sets out the planned level of NHS-funded activity with a provider during the financial year.
North East and North Cumbria ICB has introduced IAPs and equalised waiting times across the providers we fund to help:
Why can't everyone be assessed as soon as a Right to Choose provider has capacity?
A provider having appointments available does not necessarily mean that the NHS has unlimited funding available to purchase those appointments.
Demand for ADHD and autism assessments has increased significantly and the NHS has to plan how available resources are used fairly across patients and services.
North East and North Cumbria ICB is funding more ADHD and autism assessments than ever before. However, we also need to ensure that available resources are used responsibly and that people who have already experienced the longest waits are prioritised.
Are all Right to Choose providers working to the same waiting-time arrangements?
NENC ICB has introduced equalised waiting times across the providers we fund, with an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for new referrals for initial ADHD and autism assessments during 2026/27.
People who have already been waiting and reach approximately 78 weeks during the financial year should be prioritised for assessment.
What support is available while I wait for an assessment?
You do not always need to wait for a diagnosis before receiving help and support.
Information about ADHD and autism, local services, self-management resources and support available while you wait is available on the NENC ICB website:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism
If you are concerned that your needs, or your child's needs, have changed while waiting, please speak to your GP or healthcare professional.
Additional FAQs for Children and Young People
Does my child need an ADHD or autism diagnosis before they can receive support?
No. A child or young person should not have to wait for a formal diagnosis before their needs are considered and appropriate support is put in place.
An ADHD or autism assessment can help everyone understand a child's needs and may inform future support, but support should be based on the difficulties and needs a child is experiencing now.
If your child is struggling while waiting for an assessment, we encourage you to speak to their school and GP about the support that may be available.
My child is struggling at school while waiting for an assessment. What should I do?
Speak to your child's school about the difficulties they are experiencing and ask what support can be put in place now.
You may find it helpful to request a meeting with the school's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) to discuss:
A child does not need a confirmed ADHD or autism diagnosis before a school can consider their needs and appropriate support.
Can a school say it cannot provide support until my child has a diagnosis?
Support for a child with special educational needs should be based on their identified needs, rather than being dependent on a confirmed diagnosis.
Where a child may have special educational needs, schools should consider appropriate SEND support using the graduated “assess, plan, do, review” approach.
Depending on the child's individual needs, support might include reasonable adjustments, changes within the classroom, help with emotional regulation, movement or sensory needs, or an individual support plan.
If you are concerned that your child's needs are not being appropriately supported, speak to the school's SENDCO.
What is SENDIASS and can they help us?
Your local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) provides free, confidential and impartial information and advice to children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers.
They can help you understand your child's rights, prepare for conversations with school, understand plans or correspondence and consider what you can do if you are concerned that your child's needs are not being appropriately addressed.
In some circumstances, SENDIASS may also be able to support you in meetings with the school.
My child is already receiving support from a children's mental health service. What should I do if they are getting worse while waiting?
Contact the service involved in your child's care and explain what has changed.
The team can consider whether your child's needs or level of risk have changed, review the support currently in place and, where appropriate and with consent, work with the school and other professionals involved in their care.
This does not necessarily mean that an ADHD or autism assessment can be brought forward, but it is important that the service has an up-to-date understanding of your child's mental health and wellbeing.
Can a Mental Health Support Team help my child while they wait?
If your child's school has access to a Mental Health Support Team (MHST), you can ask the school or its designated mental health lead whether support from the team may be appropriate.
MHSTs provide early support for some emotional wellbeing and mental health needs and can also support and advise school staff.
They do not provide ADHD or autism diagnostic assessments, and the support available will depend on your child's needs and the local offer.
Your child does not need an ADHD or autism diagnosis before their school considers whether support from an MHST or another appropriate service may be helpful.
Does support from a mental health service replace the support my child's school should provide?
No.
Support from children's mental health services or an MHST should complement, rather than replace, the school's responsibility to identify and respond to your child's educational and additional needs.
Different services may have different roles, and children may need support from more than one service depending on their individual needs.
What if my child's needs change or they are struggling more while waiting?
If your child's needs or circumstances change while they are waiting, please do not wait for their ADHD or autism assessment before asking for help.
Speak to their GP, school and any health or mental health service already supporting them, depending on the nature of the concern.
A diagnostic assessment is only one part of understanding and supporting a child's needs. If your child is struggling with their learning, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, relationships or day-to-day life, support should be considered based on the needs they are experiencing now, rather than waiting for a diagnosis.
If you are worried about your child's immediate safety or believe they need urgent medical or mental health support, seek urgent professional help.
What can I do to support my child while they wait?
There are things that can be done before a diagnosis.
The most helpful support will depend on your child's individual needs, but this might include support at school, reasonable adjustments, strategies to support routines, communication, sensory needs or emotional regulation, and support for emotional wellbeing or mental health where needed.
Information about ADHD and autism, local services and support available while waiting is available on the NENC ICB website:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism – support and information
The key message is that a child should receive support according to their identified needs while they are waiting. A diagnostic assessment should not become a barrier to appropriate help.
Waiting times are long as there is currently still a much higher demand for autism and ADHD assessments than services can provide.
Right to Choose referrals remain open and providers should continue to accept eligible referrals.
For 2026/27, providers funded by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) are working to an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for an initial assessment.
If you have only recently been referred, it is therefore unlikely that you will be offered an assessment during the current financial year (2026/27 ending 31 March 2027).
This does not mean your referral has been paused or cancelled. You should remain on your chosen provider's waiting list.
Being on more than one waiting list
You should only be on one autism and one ADHD assessment waiting list at a time.
If you have:
Please let the other provider or NHS trust know so that you can be removed from their waiting list. This helps services manage demand and ensures appointments are offered fairly.
If needed, can I get prescriptions for medication to help with my ADHD from my GP/NHS?
It depends on how and where you are diagnosed.
GPs in England are not able to prescribe the type of medication recommended for ADHD. Only specialist providers (secondary care hospitals or some Right to Choose providers) can prescribe ADHD medication.
If you have a confirmed ADHD diagnosis, medication should be discussed with the service who provided that diagnosis.
Can a Right to Choose provider issue NHS prescriptions?
Some Right to Choose providers can prescribe ADHD medication but this would usually need a shared care agreement with your GP to access the medication via the NHS.
Some Right to Choose providers are able to offer prescriptions depending on their NHS contract. It is important you understand this prior to assessment as you may not be able to access medication via the NHS if the provider cannot prescribe within their NHS contract.
What is a shared care agreement?
A shared care agreement is a written agreement between a patient, their GP, and a specialist (who is able to prescribe certain medications that a GP can't prescribe) and allows the sharing of care for a specific health condition.
A shared care agreement is usually made when a patient’s condition is stable, and with the patient’s agreement. The agreement allows the patient to continue taking their medicine from their GP, rather than having to visit the hospital.
Why won't my GP enter into a shared care agreement?
GP practices have the choice to enter into shared care agreements or not. This is not something the ICB can influence.
*Guidance issued by the General Medical Council (GMC) states the GP is not obliged to enter into a shared care arrangement with any provider, and GP practices can decline shared care requests on clinical and capacity grounds.
Do I need a shared care agreement to be able to access ADHD medication via the NHS?
No. If you have a diagnosis from an NHS organisation (CNTW or TEWV in NENC ICB area) they are able to continue to prescribe medication for as long as needed and or until a shared care can be agreed.
Some Right to Choose provider are able to prescribe within their NHS contract – where they do, they can continue to prescribe until a shared care agreement can be reached. It is important to understand this before your assessment with a Right to Choose provider as if you go to a provider that is not able to prescribe and medication is recommended, you are not able to access medication via the NHS in a different way.
Additional FAQs for Children and Young People
Does my child need an ADHD or autism diagnosis before they can receive support?
No. A child or young person should not have to wait for a formal diagnosis before their needs are considered and appropriate support is put in place.
An ADHD or autism assessment can help everyone understand a child's needs and may inform future support, but support should be based on the difficulties and needs a child is experiencing now.
If your child is struggling while waiting for an assessment, we encourage you to speak to their school and GP about the support that may be available.
My child is struggling at school while waiting for an assessment. What should I do?
Speak to your child's school about the difficulties they are experiencing and ask what support can be put in place now.
You may find it helpful to request a meeting with the school's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) to discuss:
A child does not need a confirmed ADHD or autism diagnosis before a school can consider their needs and appropriate support.
Can a school say it cannot provide support until my child has a diagnosis?
Support for a child with special educational needs should be based on their identified needs, rather than being dependent on a confirmed diagnosis.
Where a child may have special educational needs, schools should consider appropriate SEND support using the graduated “assess, plan, do, review” approach.
Depending on the child's individual needs, support might include reasonable adjustments, changes within the classroom, help with emotional regulation, movement or sensory needs, or an individual support plan.
If you are concerned that your child's needs are not being appropriately supported, speak to the school's SENDCO.
What is SENDIASS and can they help us?
Your local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) provides free, confidential and impartial information and advice to children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers.
They can help you understand your child's rights, prepare for conversations with school, understand plans or correspondence and consider what you can do if you are concerned that your child's needs are not being appropriately addressed.
In some circumstances, SENDIASS may also be able to support you in meetings with the school.
My child is already receiving support from a children's mental health service. What should I do if they are getting worse while waiting?
Contact the service involved in your child's care and explain what has changed.
The team can consider whether your child's needs or level of risk have changed, review the support currently in place and, where appropriate and with consent, work with the school and other professionals involved in their care.
This does not necessarily mean that an ADHD or autism assessment can be brought forward, but it is important that the service has an up-to-date understanding of your child's mental health and wellbeing.
Can a Mental Health Support Team help my child while they wait?
If your child's school has access to a Mental Health Support Team (MHST), you can ask the school or its designated mental health lead whether support from the team may be appropriate.
MHSTs provide early support for some emotional wellbeing and mental health needs and can also support and advise school staff.
They do not provide ADHD or autism diagnostic assessments, and the support available will depend on your child's needs and the local offer.
Your child does not need an ADHD or autism diagnosis before their school considers whether support from an MHST or another appropriate service may be helpful.
Does support from a mental health service replace the support my child's school should provide?
No.
Support from children's mental health services or an MHST should complement, rather than replace, the school's responsibility to identify and respond to your child's educational and additional needs.
Different services may have different roles, and children may need support from more than one service depending on their individual needs.
What if my child's needs change or they are struggling more while waiting?
If your child's needs or circumstances change while they are waiting, please do not wait for their ADHD or autism assessment before asking for help.
Speak to their GP, school and any health or mental health service already supporting them, depending on the nature of the concern.
A diagnostic assessment is only one part of understanding and supporting a child's needs. If your child is struggling with their learning, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, relationships or day-to-day life, support should be considered based on the needs they are experiencing now, rather than waiting for a diagnosis.
If you are worried about your child's immediate safety or believe they need urgent medical or mental health support, seek urgent professional help.
What can I do to support my child while they wait?
There are things that can be done before a diagnosis.
The most helpful support will depend on your child's individual needs, but this might include support at school, reasonable adjustments, strategies to support routines, communication, sensory needs or emotional regulation, and support for emotional wellbeing or mental health where needed.
Information about ADHD and autism, local services and support available while waiting is available on the NENC ICB website:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism – support and information
The key message is that a child should receive support according to their identified needs while they are waiting. A diagnostic assessment should not become a barrier to appropriate help.
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for planning and funding NHS autism and ADHD services across the region.
We know people are waiting too long. We continue to invest in services and work with providers to increase assessment capacity and improve access.
This includes:
· funding more autism and ADHD assessments than ever before
· supporting more people to start NHS-funded prescribed medication for ADHD
· working with over 48 NHS, Right to Choose and North East and North Cumbria accredited providers
· working towards fairer and more consistent waiting times across providers
· expanding online support information and self-management resources, and local support signposting on the ICB website
We continue to monitor services to make sure people receive safe, high quality care.
If you have a query, concern or complaint about autism and ADHD services which is not covered in the information on these pages email nencicb.complaints@nhs.net
If you wish to raise a complaint about a service you have received, in the first instance you should follow the services own complaints procedure.
It is important to note:
Raising a complaint with NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (either directly or via your MP) will not
We recognise wait times are long and we are working hard, and investing in services, to reduce these.
We recognise shared care can be an issue for some people, and in most cases this is not needed for ongoing NHS prescribing – if you receive medication from a specialist provider under the NHS, then ongoing prescribing responsibility remains with them.
If the nature of your complaint or query relates to information already available on this website, the complaints team will not provide a personalised response but will direct you to the information available on these web pages.
If you (or someone you represent) has had a change in circumstance you should communicate this with the specialist provider you are registered with, or your GP.
If you (or someone you represent) needs support while you wait for an assessment or ADHD treatment within the wait times you have been advised of, please contact your GP, call 111 or access support locally.
There is information available on our webpages about local support for both children and young people and adults.
