Access to NHS-funded prescriptions for essential Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication is increasingly being withdrawn for patients in England, a development causing significant distress and highlighting severe systemic pressures within ADHD services. The core issue lies in the dismantling of the typical prescribing pathway—the shared-care agreement—by GP practices and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). This shift primarily affects people who sought a private diagnosis to bypass the long waiting lists for NHS assessment and treatment. Data suggests around 700,000 people were on waiting lists in September 2025, an increase of nearly 50% from the previous year, with some waits lasting several years.
The Severe Consequences for Patients
GPs are adopting a cautious stance due to legitimate safety concerns. Many private clinics reportedly do not meet NHS standards for comprehensive monitoring and long-term management, which exposes GP practices to clinical risk. Consequently, some surgeries will only prescribe if a shared-care agreement is in place with a recognised NHS service, refusing to support diagnoses made entirely outside the NHS or overseas. For example, one GP practice in Mid and South Essex announced it would stop prescribing and monitoring ADHD medications from 1 January 2026 due to staffing pressure, care complexity, and drug supply challenges.
For patients, the consequences are severe. Individuals who pursued a private route are now told they must either re-enter the NHS referral process—potentially waiting years again—or pay privately for continued medication. The cost of private ADHD care can run into thousands of pounds per year, creating a significant financial burden. Charity leaders, such as Henry Shelford, chief executive of ADHD UK, warn that this trend is “dangerous and cruel,” estimating that thousands of patients have been affected. Loss of consistent medication leads to severe wellbeing impacts, ranging from anxiety and functional impairment to financial strain and disruption of education or employment. A patient-led poll found that over half of respondents received very short notice before their GP stopped prescribing.
Systemic Failures and the ADHD Crisis
These frontline frustrations are rooted in deeper systemic issues, including capacity constraints that force people towards private providers, general practice workforce pressure and heavy workloads, and supply issues concerning medications like methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine.
NHS England and the Department of Health acknowledge the situation's seriousness. An independent ADHD Taskforce, reporting in 2025, has recommended improvements in early access, integrated care pathways, and GP training. However, the reality remains a postcode lottery, with some ICBs commissioning additional local services while others restrict access. Ultimately, this crisis underscores the urgent need for policymakers to address mental-health workforce growth, shared-care governance, and equitable access to care. Without systemic investment, people with ADHD face being trapped between lengthy NHS waits and unaffordable private care, with serious negative consequences for their health and quality of life.
