Adults
2,948
adults waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment
At the current pace, a new referral to a local NHS service could wait about 11 years.
20th longest of 36 areas we have figures for. Middle of all areas: 12 years.
NHS area · Wales
ADHD assessment in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Figures come from our own Freedom of Information requests. Last updated 14 July 2026.
At a glance
Children and young people
2,581
children and young people waiting for an assessment
At the current pace, a new referral to a local NHS service could wait about 2.6 years.
21st longest of 40 areas we have figures for. Middle of all areas: 2.7 years.
Right to Choose
England only
Right to Choose does not apply in Wales. Your GP refers you to your local NHS service.
We know of 1 restriction affecting access here. See details
How Cardiff and Vale University Health Board compares with other areas
Each dot is one NHS area. Further right means a longer wait at the current pace.
Middle of all areas: 12 yearsThis area: about 11 years
010 yrs20 yrs30 yrs40 yrs50 yrs60 yrs70+ yrs
Middle of all areas: 2.7 yearsThis area: about 2.6 years
04 yrs8 yrs12 yrs16+ yrs
What does "at the current pace" mean?
We divide the number of people waiting by the number of assessments the service did in the last year. It shows how long someone joining the list today could wait if nothing changes. It is an estimate, not a promise: services can speed up, and some people are seen sooner because of urgency. The NHS standard for non-urgent care is 18 weeks.
Local NHS services
The NHS services that assess people here, with their latest figures.
2,948 adults waiting across the whole area, according to the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (31 March 2026).
What they told us
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (FoI.26.321, response 14 Jul 2026): 2,948 adults waiting; 282 adults assessed in 2025/26; stated mean wait 3 years. At the 2025/26 assessment rate the queue represents an effective wait of roughly 10.5 years (2,948 / 282). The adult pathway figure largely covers people already established on medication being slotted into clinics; the new-referral pathway is being redesigned amid high complaint volumes.
We don't have figures from individual NHS services here yet.
2,581 children and young people waiting across the whole area, according to the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (31 March 2026).
What they told us
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (FoI.26.321, response 14 Jul 2026): child figures are combined ADHD+ASD / neurodevelopmental and cannot be isolated to ADHD — 2,581 children awaiting an ADHD assessment on a holistic ND pathway, of whom 1,467 are also awaiting an ASD assessment; 980 ADHD and/or ASD assessments undertaken in 2025/26; stated wait ~3 years (Single Point of Access holistic model; HB committed to maintaining 3 years with 26/27 funding). Combined figures shown in table only, not graphed as ADHD-only.
We don't have figures from individual NHS services here yet.
What is restricting access here
Rules the NHS here has put in place that limit who can be assessed, or how fast.
Adults and children
Other information
Right to Choose does not apply in Wales. 2,948 adults are waiting, with a stated average wait of 3 years but about 10 and a half years at the current rate of assessments, and 2,581 children are waiting about 3 years.
Know of a restriction we've missed? Tell us.
What you can do
1
Get updates for this area
We'll email you when new figures or restrictions are published for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and when complaint letters are ready.
2
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Coming soon3
Tell us something we've missed
A new restriction, a letter from your trust, a figure that looks wrong. It helps us keep this page accurate.
Sources and how we work
In May 2026 we sent Freedom of Information requests to 1 organisation here. 1 has replied: 1 in full, 0 in part.
| Organisation | Reply | Received | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | Full | 14 July 2026 | View |
NHS area map
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
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