Henry Shelford, CEO and Co-Founder of ADHD UK, was quoted in the article and provided background information.

A UK government review, led by Peter Fonagy, is set to recommend that ADHD symptoms should not automatically lead to a formal diagnosis, instead prioritising a “holistic” support-based assessment over labels. This comes amid concerns over long waiting lists and the rising benefits bill, with less severe cases potentially being offered help without diagnosis.

Henry Shelford, CEO of ADHD UK, has strongly criticised the proposal, calling it a form of rationing and arguing there’s no such thing as “mild” ADHD, since diagnosis already requires evidence of debilitating impact. He warned that without formal diagnosis, people may turn to self-diagnosing via social media, leaving schools and businesses without proper guidance on support. He also highlighted the serious health toll of ADHD, noting that women with ADHD die on average nine years earlier than peers, and men seven years earlier, arguing this should be treated as a health emergency rather than an inconvenience. He pointed to the economic case for diagnosis and treatment, referencing NHS spending on weight-loss drugs to get people back into work as a comparable investment logic.

Mel Merritt of the National Autistic Society also warned that denying diagnosis would worsen existing inequalities.

You can read the full article here: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/nhs-set-introduce-change-formal-34632780