ADHD assessment in NHS Essex ICB
Figures come from our own Freedom of Information requests. Last updated 28 August 2026.
At a glance
How NHS Essex ICB compares with other areas
Each dot is one NHS area. Further right means a longer wait at the current pace.
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.
What they told us
NHS Essex ICB told us via FOI (2627053, dated 03/06/2026) that 11,191 adults were waiting for an ADHD assessment - but this figure is from MAY 2025: "The ICB does not hold current data." Assessment volumes are not held (with providers). Essex Partnership University NHS FT is the commissioned adult pathway; referrals are subject to patient choice and may bypass ICB-commissioned routes. No IAPs in place.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
What they told us
FOI EPUT.FOI.26.4731 (13 Aug 2026): 14,316 adults waiting for an ADHD diagnosis; 276 adults given an ADHD assessment in 2025/26. EFFECTIVE WAIT: at the 2025/26 assessment rate (276 per year) the 14,316-strong waiting list represents an effective wait of roughly 51.9 years (14,316 / 276). The Trust gave no expected wait, pointing instead to its website. Two services (North East/West Essex via the Single Point of Access; Mid and South Essex direct to the service); once referred, an initial assessment with informant information, MDT decision on whether a specific ADHD assessment is indicated, then a second waiting list for the ADHD-specific assessment.
NHS Mid and South Essex ICB
What they told us
The BBC published research on ADHD wait times. They published data by NHS provider. In some cases the provider covers more than one NHS area. We've mapped the BBC data onto your ICB. It reported that in 2024 Essex Partnership had 6459 people waiting with 517 seen in 2023/24. Giving an effective wait time of 12.5 years
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB
What they told us
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB reported via forwarded FOI that it commissions adult ADHD assessments and commissions child ADHD assessments. Data shows 58 adult assessments in 2024-25, with 3936 adults waiting (effective wait: 67.9 years), 2473 children waiting, 85 adult assessments in 2023-24, 2466 adults waiting (effective wait: 29 years). Right to Choose was used for adult and child ADHD assessments.
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB
What they told us
Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB reported via FOI that it commissions adult ADHD assessments and commissions child ADHD assessments. No numerical waiting list data was provided. Right to Choose was used for adult and child ADHD assessments.
Figures from individual services come from different dates and some services cover more than one area, so they won't add up to the whole-area total.
What they told us
NHS Essex ICB told us via FOI (2627053, dated 03/06/2026) that 4,423 children were waiting for an ADHD assessment and 640 child ADHD pathways were completed in 2025/26 - COVERAGE NOTE: these figures cover West, South West and South East Essex only (Mid and North East Essex not held). EFFECTIVE WAIT: at the 2025/26 completion rate in the covered areas (640 per year), the 4,423-strong list represents roughly 6.9 years (4,423 / 640). Providers: six accredited providers + Mycarebridge portal (Mid & South Essex, NELFT/EPUT/Provide), HCRG (West Essex), ESNEFT (North East Essex). No IAPs.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB
What they told us
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB reported via forwarded FOI that it commissions adult ADHD assessments and commissions child ADHD assessments. Data shows 58 adult assessments in 2024-25, with 3936 adults waiting (effective wait: 67.9 years), 2473 children waiting, 85 adult assessments in 2023-24, 2466 adults waiting (effective wait: 29 years). Right to Choose was used for adult and child ADHD assessments.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
What they told us
FOI EPUT.FOI.26.4796 (28 Aug 2026): 1,475 children waiting for an ADHD diagnosis; 148 assessments completed on the ADHD pathway in 2025/26. The Trust itself states that at the current level of assessments the expected wait for a child referred today is 9+ years. EFFECTIVE WAIT: 1,475 / 148 = roughly 10.0 years. Pathway: referral via MyCareBridge with automatic parent and school report requests (referral closed if reports not received within 4 weeks), screening against criteria, pre-diagnostic support (online workshops, videos, advice lines), Conners 4 questionnaires, QB Test and observations, diagnostic outcome, then shared-care medication or signposting. Note: the Trust initially asserted child ADHD was not in our original request and logged it as a new FOI received 16 July 2026.
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB
What they told us
Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB reported via FOI that it commissions adult ADHD assessments and commissions child ADHD assessments. No numerical waiting list data was provided. Right to Choose was used for adult and child ADHD assessments.
Figures from individual services come from different dates and some services cover more than one area, so they won't add up to the whole-area total.
Right to Choose: other NHS-funded providers
In England you can ask your GP to refer you to a different NHS-funded provider, often with a shorter wait. These are the waits providers have told us for NHS Essex ICB, shortest first. How Right to Choose works
| Provider | Wait for assessment | Wait for medication (titration) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atrom Mindcare Atrom Mindcare is a CQC-registered, psychiatrist-led mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment and treatment provider. We have no internal waiting list so most people book within days of sending back their forms, and every assessment is with a Consultant Psychiatrist. A few NHS areas limit referrals, so be sure to check yours on the ADHD UK website as well as at www.atrommindcare.com/nhs-right-to-choose-eligibility. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 5 weeks | Provider page |
| Berkeley Psychiatrists Approximately 2-3 weeks after referral accepted and processed. Some areas longer due to ICB caps - see ICB-specific data. We provide NHS Prescribing under Right to Choose even when the GP declines Shared Care National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 1 week | Provider page |
| Care ADHD Patients typically booked within 1 day of completing forms, with plenty of clinical availability in that week around patient's diary.
We can receive referrals from all ICBs, but a small number have placed restrictions and longer waiting times for new assessments for non urgent cases. Please see ICB level information for more detail. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 18 weeks | Provider page |
| Harley Street Mental Health No wait (where no IAP in place) National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 20 weeks | |
| Harrow Health No waiting list after completion of pre assessment forms. Appointments can be made for compliant patients immediately. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | No wait | Provider page |
| Innovate ADHD We accept referrals from any GP in England and hold no routine waiting list, however there may be more local restrictions, which can be found on our website. Once your referral is accepted and uploaded, you will be sent a short triage form. In most cases you will then receive your pre-assessment forms straight away, and once these are returned you can book your appointment.
Where triage flags a complexity, or a prior diagnosis needs clinical review, your referral goes to a member of our clinical team first, this can add on a week or two, depending on volume.
A small number of NHS commissioners have placed local restrictions or longer waits on non-urgent referrals - the current list is on our website. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 12 weeks | Provider page |
| Medinet Minds (previously HealthHarmonie Minds) However some ICBs have set activity restrictions, see our website for more details - https://www.medinetminds.com/rtc-icb-restrictions/ National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 4 weeks | Provider page |
| Mentalwell No wait. Adults (18+) only. Appointments are offered as soon as your pre-assessment questionnaires have been returned and reviewed. We accept NHS Right to Choose referrals from across most of England, although a small number of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have local commissioning restrictions in place. Please see the ICB-level information for more detail. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 4 weeks | Provider page |
| RTN Mental Health Currently accepting referrals with assessment capacity available. Following completion of the required forms, patients can move forward to assessment where local NHS commissioning arrangements allow. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | No wait | Provider page |
| Well Life ADHD Clinic We work in partnership with the NHS and are accepting adult referrals across England. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | No wait | Provider page |
| Xyla Services Once your GP referral and pre-assessment forms are complete, our team will arrange your online ADHD assessment with a specialist clinician. Check our website to see if we currently accept referrals from your area. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | 4 weeks | Provider page |
| Dr J and Colleagues 3 to 4 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | Provider page |
| Insight Diagnostics 2 weeks after the referral is processed and accepted National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | 10 weeks | Provider page |
| Psicon Assumes clients return their pre-assessment paperwork National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | 16 weeks | Provider page |
| Skylight Psychiatry 2 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | 14 weeks | Provider page |
| Healthcare Central London Our assessment wait times are currently up to 3 weeks following completion of all pre-assessment forms.
We can accept referrals from all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) but, in some areas, there are restrictions in place that limit how many assessments we can book each year. Please see ICB level information for more detail. National figure - not specific to this area | 3 weeks | 11 weeks | Provider page |
| ProblemShared | 6 weeks | 32 weeks | Provider page |
| Modality LLP 4-8 weeks depending on ICB National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | Not known | Provider page |
| Montrose Health Group Approx within eight weeks post all forms back and questionnaires - Local ICB rules may apply for your postcode which may impact on further waits or availability this financial year. National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | 14 weeks | Provider page |
| Clinical Partners | 9 weeks | 39 weeks | Provider page |
| Psychiatry-UK | 20 weeks | 48 weeks | Provider page |
| The Retreat Clinic National figure - not specific to this area | 20 weeks | 4 weeks | |
| Adult ADHD Northwest Up to 26 weeks from completion of all forms. National figure - not specific to this area | 26 weeks | No wait | Provider page |
| ADHD 360 | 29 weeks | No wait | Provider page |
| The Owl Centre Limited 26 - 52 weeks. Waiting times vary by local NHS ICB, as each ICB manages its own referral pathway. National figure - not specific to this area | 52 weeks | 52 weeks | Provider page |
| The Aspen Clinic 78 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 78 weeks | Not known | Provider page |
| Oakdale Group 78 to 104 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 104 weeks | 78 weeks | Provider page |
| Sinclair Strong Waiting times vary depending on your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB). Each ICB commissions and funds a set number of assessments and appointments each financial year through an Indicative Activity Plan (IAP), which determines how many patients can be seen.
Some ICBs also specify waiting list management arrangements or target waiting times as part of their commissioned pathway. This can influence when patients are offered appointments and means waiting times may vary between areas.
Where demand exceeds the activity commissioned by the ICB, waiting times may be longer. We also prioritise patients with complex needs and other clinical factors in line with our contractual and clinical obligations, meaning some patients may be seen sooner than others. National figure - not specific to this area | Not known | 18 weeks | Provider page |
| Provider | Wait for assessment | Wait for medication (titration) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medinet Minds (previously HealthHarmonie Minds) Children aged 6+. 4 weeks. National figure - not specific to this area | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | Provider page |
| Psicon Assumes clients and school return their pre-assessment paperwork National figure - not specific to this area | 4 weeks | 16 weeks | Provider page |
| Care ADHD Appointments within 4-6 weeks from completing forms. National figure - not specific to this area | 6 weeks | 1 week | Provider page |
| Paloma Health Remote assessment only. Please check our website for waiting times and any restrictions in your area. National figure - not specific to this area | 6 weeks | 12 weeks | Provider page |
| Provide Wellbeing From 6 weeks.
Starting from the point that all required information has been received and accepted, to the first available appointment. National figure - not specific to this area | 6 weeks | 8 weeks | Provider page |
| Clinical Partners This wait time assumes that you have completed your child's pre-assessment questionnaires, and that there are no instructions issued from your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) affecting when we can offer appointments. If the questionnaires are received later, or there are instructions from your ICB, the time you wait may increase. National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | 40 weeks | Provider page |
| Montrose Health Group Ages 6+ Approx within eight weeks post all forms back and questionnaires - ICB rules may apply for your postcode National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | 14 weeks | Provider page |
| Mind Professionals All services accessed via local frameworks or the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway currently have an expected waiting time of up to 18 weeks. National figure - not specific to this area | 18 weeks | Not known | Provider page |
| The Owl Centre Limited National figure - not specific to this area | 52 weeks | Not known | Provider page |
| Oakdale Group 52-78 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 78 weeks | Not known | Provider page |
| The Aspen Clinic 78 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 78 weeks | Not known | Provider page |
| Provider | Wait for assessment | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Atrom Mindcare Atrom Mindcare is a CQC-registered, psychiatrist-led mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment and treatment provider. We have no internal waiting list so most people book within days of sending back their forms, and every assessment is with a Consultant Psychiatrist. A few NHS areas limit referrals, so be sure to check yours on the ADHD UK website as well as at National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | Provider page |
| Medinet Minds (previously HealthHarmonie Minds) However some ICBs have set activity restrictions, see our website for more details - https://www.medinetminds.com/rtc-icb-restrictions/ National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | Provider page |
| Psychiatry-UK No wait. Assessments are available as soon as forms are completed, subject to local NHS funding and commissioning arrangements. Check our website for the latest availability in your area. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | Provider page |
| RTN Mental Health Currently accepting referrals with assessment capacity available. Following completion of the required forms, patients can move forward to assessment where local NHS commissioning arrangements allow. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | Provider page |
| Dr J and Colleagues National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | Provider page |
| Insight Diagnostics 2 weeks after the referral is processed and accepted National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | Provider page |
| Harley Street Mental Health 3 weeks (where no IAP in place) National figure - not specific to this area | 3 weeks | |
| Psicon Assumes clients return their pre-assessment paperwork National figure - not specific to this area | 4 weeks | Provider page |
| Provide Wellbeing From 6 weeks.
Starting from the point that all required information has been received and accepted, to the first available appointment. Available both virtually and face to face. National figure - not specific to this area | 6 weeks | Provider page |
| Clinical Partners This wait time assumes that you have completed your pre-assessment questionnaires, and that there are no instructions issued from your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) affecting when we can offer appointments. If the questionnaires are received later, or there are instructions from your ICB, the time you wait may increase. National figure - not specific to this area | 7 weeks | Provider page |
| Montrose Health Group Ages 18+ Approx within eight weeks post all forms back and questionnaires - Local ICB rules may apply for your postcode with restrictions. National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | Provider page |
| Skylight Psychiatry 8 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | Provider page |
| ProblemShared Approximately 10-12 weeks assessment wait - from client ready National figure - not specific to this area | 12 weeks | Provider page |
| K T Healthcare 14-16 week wait time. This is a minimum wait time and may vary depending on your local Integrated Care Board (ICB). Timelines begin from receipt of completed questionnaires and all required information. National figure - not specific to this area | 14 weeks | Provider page |
| Mind Professionals All services accessed via local frameworks or the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway currently have an expected waiting time of up to 18 weeks. National figure - not specific to this area | 18 weeks | Provider page |
| The Retreat Clinic Our waiting time for standard NHS contract assessments is currently: 4.5 years (if the ICB confirms funding for this in 2026-27, we would be booking in people referred to us in early 2022). National figure - not specific to this area | 20 weeks | |
| The Owl Centre Limited 26 - 52 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 52 weeks | Provider page |
| Oakdale Group 52-70 weeks (12-14 months). Can also offer combined autism and ADHD assessment. National figure - not specific to this area | 70 weeks | Provider page |
| The Aspen Clinic 78 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 78 weeks | Provider page |
| Sinclair Strong Waiting times vary depending on your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB). Each ICB commissions and funds a set number of assessments and appointments each financial year through an Indicative Activity Plan (IAP), which determines how many patients can be seen.
Some ICBs also specify waiting list management arrangements or target waiting times as part of their commissioned pathway. This can influence when patients are offered appointments and means waiting times may vary between areas.
Where demand exceeds the activity commissioned by the ICB, waiting times may be longer. We also prioritise patients with complex needs and other clinical factors in line with our contractual and clinical obligations, meaning some patients may be seen sooner than others. National figure - not specific to this area | Not known | Provider page |
| Provider | Wait for assessment | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry-UK Psychiatry UK is accepting referrals for Autism services for children and young people aged 8 and over. OUR REMOTELY DELIVERED SERVICE will include an initial clinical assessment, structured observation and multidisciplinary team review, followed by an outcome appointment, written report and optional post-diagnostic review. Assessments will be available as soon as pre-assessment forms are completed. During the first months of opening, we do not expect there to be an additional wait for assessment, subject to local NHS commissioning arrangements and available capacity. Families and healthcare professionals will be able to find referral information, service updates and local commissioning information on the Psychiatry UK website. A CYP ADHD assessment and treatment service is being developed for early 2027. CYP ADHD referrals are not yet open. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | Provider page |
| RTN Mental Health Currently accepting referrals with assessment capacity available. Following completion of the required forms, patients can move forward to assessment where local NHS commissioning arrangements allow. National figure - not specific to this area | No wait listed | Provider page |
| Paloma Health Remote and hybrid assessment options available. Please check our website for waiting times and any restrictions in your area. National figure - not specific to this area | 2 weeks | Provider page |
| Medinet Minds (previously HealthHarmonie Minds) Accepting children aged 8+ nationally, delivered virtually. Herefordshire & Worcestershire ICB patients can be 6+, but part of the assessment must be face to face. 6 weeks. National figure - not specific to this area | 6 weeks | Provider page |
| Provide Wellbeing From 6 weeks.
Starting from the point that all required information has been received and accepted, to the first available appointment. National figure - not specific to this area | 6 weeks | Provider page |
| Montrose Health Group Ages 6 to 18th birthday. Approx within eight weeks post all forms back and questionnaires - ICB rules may apply for your postcode National figure - not specific to this area | 8 weeks | Provider page |
| Clinical Partners This wait time assumes that you have completed your child's pre-assessment questionnaires, and that there are no instructions issued from your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) affecting when we can offer appointments. If the questionnaires are received later, or there are instructions from your ICB, the time you wait may increase. National figure - not specific to this area | 9 weeks | Provider page |
| Care ADHD Waiting times have been above our usual 4 week expectations, but significant clinical capacity is now in place for autism and dual assessments. National figure - not specific to this area | 12 weeks | Provider page |
| ProblemShared Approximately 10-12 weeks assessment wait - from client ready National figure - not specific to this area | 12 weeks | Provider page |
| Psicon Assumes clients and school return their pre-assessment paperwork National figure - not specific to this area | 12 weeks | Provider page |
| K T Healthcare 14-16 week wait time. This is a minimum wait time and may vary depending on your local Integrated Care Board (ICB). Timelines begin from receipt of completed questionnaires and all required information. National figure - not specific to this area | 14 weeks | Provider page |
| Mind Professionals All services accessed via local frameworks or the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway currently have an expected waiting time of up to 18 weeks. National figure - not specific to this area | 18 weeks | Provider page |
| The Owl Centre Limited 26 - 52 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 52 weeks | Provider page |
| Oakdale Group 52-70 weeks (12-14 months). Can also offer combined autism and ADHD assessment. National figure - not specific to this area | 70 weeks | Provider page |
| The Aspen Clinic 78 weeks National figure - not specific to this area | 78 weeks | Provider page |
Providers update their own figures through our provider portal. Waits can change quickly, so check with the provider before asking your GP.
What is restricting access here
Rules the NHS here has put in place that limit who can be assessed, or how fast.
Not capping Right to Choose
This area has no caps on Right to Choose ADHD assessments for adults or children.
Know of a restriction we've missed? Tell us.
What you can do
Ask your GP for a Right to Choose referral
Pick a provider from the list above and ask your GP to refer you there. Our guide explains what to say.
Read the guideGet updates for this area
We'll email you when new figures or restrictions are published for NHS Essex ICB, and when complaint letters are ready.
Write to the ICB and your MP
Letter templates for this area are being prepared. Sign up and we'll tell you when they're ready.
Coming soonTell 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 3 organisations here. 3 have replied: 1 in full, 2 in part.
Older figures and records (10)
- Jul 2024 NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB (adults): 6,459 waiting, 517 assessed · SourceThe BBC published research on ADHD wait times. They published data by NHS provider. In some cases the provider covers more than one NHS area. We've mapped the BBC data onto your ICB. It reported that in 2024 Essex Partnership had 6459 people waiting with 517 seen in 2023/24. Giving an effective wait time of 12.5 years
- Jul 2024 NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB (adults): 8,782 waiting, 418 assessed · SourceThe BBC published research on ADHD wait times. They published data by NHS provider. In some cases the provider covers more than one NHS area. We've mapped the BBC data onto your ICB. It reported that in 2024 Norfolk and Suffolk had 8782 people waiting with 418 seen in 2023/24. Giving an effective wait time of 21.0 years
- Mar 2023 Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (adults): 2,528 waiting, 522 assessed · SourceEssex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust reported that 522 adult ADHD assessments were carried out in 2023. Around 2,528 adults were reported to be waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 NHS Mid and South Essex ICB (adults) · SourceThe NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board told us via FOI that they did not provide a figure for how many adult ADHD assessments were carried out. they did not provide a figure for how many adults were waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB (adults) · SourceThe NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board told us via FOI that they did not provide a figure for how many adult ADHD assessments were carried out. they did not provide a figure for how many adults were waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB (adults) · SourceThe NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board told us via FOI that they did not provide a figure for how many adult ADHD assessments were carried out. they did not provide a figure for how many adults were waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (children): 42 waiting, 412 assessed · SourceEssex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust reported that 412 child ADHD assessments were carried out in 2023. Around 42 children were reported to be waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB (children) · SourceThe NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board told us via FOI that they did not provide a figure for how many child ADHD assessments were carried out. they did not provide a figure for how many children were waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB (children) · SourceThe NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board told us via FOI that they did not provide a figure for how many child ADHD assessments were carried out. they did not provide a figure for how many children were waiting for an ADHD assessment.
- Mar 2023 NHS Mid and South Essex ICB (children) · SourceThe NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board told us via FOI that they did not provide a figure for how many child ADHD assessments were carried out. they did not provide a figure for how many children were waiting for an ADHD assessment.
NHS Essex ICB
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The exact boundary of NHS Essex ICB with its main towns. Select a neighbouring area to see its page.
