Taskforce recommends more training in ADHD for healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals should have more training to help recognise and manage patients with ADHD, even before there is an official diagnosis, an independent ‘ADHD taskforce’ has recommended.

The final report of the taskforce, published this week, and looking at the state of ADHD care, also says there is an ‘urgent need’ for NHS England/DHSC to collaborate with NICE to define what is meant by an ADHD-qualified healthcare professional.

It has also called for ADHD to be recognised as a common and significant condition, for which the NHS must develop new diagnostic models to reduce time to diagnosis and treatment.

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The taskforce was established in 2024 to address the growing challenges in diagnosing and supporting individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to provide NHS England with recommendations to improve the management of patients with ADHD in healthcare, as well as in wider society.

Key recommendations from the report include a new diagnosis tool to reduce waiting times and more training for healthcare professionals, including those in general practice, to better recognise and manage ADHD.

In addition, the authors are calling for improved cross-government collaboration to provide more integrated support for individuals with the condition.

NHS England says the report is an ‘important step forward’ for people living with ADHD, reflecting ’a shared commitment’ from clinicians and researchers across the NHS and patients living with ADHD.

The ADHD Taskforce, chaired by Professor Anita Thapar, included people with lived experience, leading researchers, and senior clinicians. An interim report was published earlier this year, and the final report acknowledges the progress already made on its recommendations amid the rising demand for ADHD support and continued long waits for diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Adrian James, NHS England’s medical director for mental health and neurodiversity, reaffirmed the NHS’s commitment to ensuring the voices of people with ADHD and their families are at the centre of service improvement. Commenting on the new report, he said: ‘We will review the recommendations in the final report with colleagues across Government, as well as continuing to make progress on wider work to support local teams to address challenges.’

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The taskforce’s report outlines further steps to make nationwide improvements to care. However, the authors state that transformative change requires ‘systemic changes at national, regional and local level’ and needs a collaborative approach that goes beyond healthcare environments and includes input from Government departments responsible for education, employment, and justice.

The taskforce would also like to see a more ‘transparent and clear regulation’ of ADHD service providers, and a move to ensure that ADHD care is equally accessible to all marginalised sectors of the population, including those in the criminal justice system.

Professor Thapar said: ‘ADHD impacts are wider than health alone, and the taskforce’s recommendations will need action across government and society, not just within the NHS, if we are to make changes. A report alone won’t transform things overnight, but it’s an important step forward and one that gives real hope for the future.’

In parallel with the report, NHS England has been working to improve services, creating the first national dataset of ADHD referrals and waiting times, supporting innovative local service models, and expanding the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS). Integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS trusts are also required to improve ADHD care over the next three years as part of NHS England’s Medium-term planning framework, which includes making it easier for people to access assessments and support, improving patients’ experience of ADHD care, and improving the quality and efficiency of the health services.

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Health Minister Zubir Ahmed said he would be working across Government departments to prioritise early intervention and provide support for people who need it most. He added: ‘We’ll be looking closely at the recommendations from the taskforce so we can continue to make real improvements to the support and services available to people with ADHD.’