Adults
247
adults waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment
At the current pace, a new referral to a local NHS service could wait about 12 years.
17th longest of 35 areas we have figures for. Middle of all areas: 12 years.
NHS area · Scotland
ADHD assessment in NHS Highland
Figures come from our own Freedom of Information requests. Last updated 3 June 2026.
At a glance
Children and young people
No current figure
We don't yet have a recent waiting list figure for this area.
We don't have enough recent figures to estimate how long a new referral would wait.
Right to Choose
England only
Right to Choose does not apply in Scotland. Your GP refers you to your local NHS service.
We know of 1 restriction affecting access here. See details
How NHS Highland 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 12 years
010 yrs20 yrs30 yrs40 yrs50 yrs60 yrs70+ yrs
Middle of all areas: 2.7 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.
247 adults waiting across the whole area, according to the NHS Highland (3 June 2026).
What they told us
NHS Highland told us via FOI (28965, dated 03/06/2026) that approximately 247 adults are waiting for an ADHD assessment in the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership. In North Highland, 625 people are on a psychological therapies waiting list that includes ADHD - but service and recording changes mean ADHD-specific numbers cannot be identified (s.17), so the 247 understates the true Highland-wide position. The number assessed in 2025/26 is not held centrally; projected waits are not held. Pathway via published guidelines (s.25).
We don't have figures from individual NHS services here yet.
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
No clear local pathway
Outside Argyll and Bute, the local NHS cannot identify people waiting for an ADHD assessment. Adults in North Highland are on a general psychological therapies list and children on a general neurodevelopmental list, and it does not hold figures on assessments or expected waits.
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 NHS Highland, and when complaint letters are ready.
2
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 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: 0 in full, 1 in part.
| Organisation | Reply | Received | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS Highland | Partial | 3 June 2026 | View |
Older figures and records (4)
- Jun 2026 NHS Highland (children) · SourceNHS Highland told us via FOI (28965, dated 03/06/2026) that it cannot say how many children are waiting for or received an ADHD assessment: there is no ADHD-specific waiting list - all children are referred for neurodevelopmental assessment and placed on a general CAMHS/NDAS waiting list (s.17). Projected waits are not held.
- Mar 2025 NHS Highland (adults): 744 waiting, 61 assessed · SourceNHS Highland told us via forwarded FOI that they undertakes adult and child ADHD assessments. Key figures: 61 adult assessments in 2024/25; 744 adults waiting at end of 2024/25.
- Mar 2023 NHS Highland (adults): 227 waiting, 62 assessed · SourceThe NHS Highland told us via FOI that 62 adult ADHD assessments were carried out in 2023. around 227 adults were reported to be waiting for an ADHD assessment. The expected wait time is 3.7 years.
- Mar 2023 NHS Highland (children) · SourceThe NHS Highland 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 area map
NHS Highland
Loading the map...
NHS HighlandNeighbouring NHS areasTown or city
The exact boundary of NHS Highland with its main towns. Select a neighbouring area to see its page.