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NHS area · England

ADHD assessment in NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB

Figures come from our own Freedom of Information requests. Last updated 17 July 2026.

At a glance

Adults
22,794
adults waiting, across the NHS services we have figures for
At the current pace, a new referral to a local NHS service could wait about 12 years.
18th longest of 35 areas we have figures for. Middle of all areas: 12 years.
Children and young people
8,348
children waiting, across the NHS services we have figures for
At the current pace, a new referral to a local NHS service could wait about 3 years.
12th longest of 38 areas we have figures for. Middle of all areas: 2.7 years.
Right to Choose
Available
You can ask your GP to refer you to another NHS-funded provider.
Shortest adult ADHD waits reported: ProblemShared 6 weeks, Clinical Partners 9 weeks, Psychiatry-UK 52 weeks.
See all Right to Choose providers

How NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB 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
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.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

16,303waiting
166assessed in the year to Mar 2026
~98 yrsat current pace
People waiting over time
Mar 2023: 7,267Mar 2026: 16,303
Figures at 31 March 2026 · Source
What they told us

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust FOI REF6854 (response 17 Jul 2026), via NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB redirect (FOI ICB 26-053): 16,303 adults waiting for an ADHD assessment; 166 adults assessed in FY2025/26 -> derived effective wait ~98 years (16303/166). The Trust cannot give a reliable time-to-be-seen: the adult ADHD pathway is under review and future arrangements are being considered. Pathway: referral triaged and added to the waiting list -> assessment by suitably qualified staff -> if diagnosed, post-diagnostic peer support/education, medic review to start treatment, treatment to stability, then indefinite annual monitoring with no discharge pathway.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Older figures (Mar 2025)
4,165waiting
1,637assessed in the year to Mar 2025
~2.5 yrsat current pace
Figures at 31 March 2025 · Source
What they told us

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT told us via FOI that they undertakes adult and child ADHD assessments. Key figures: 1,637 adult assessments in 2024/25; 4,741 adults currently waiting; 2,334 child assessments in 2024/25; 6,003 children currently waiting.

South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Older figures (Mar 2025)
2,326waiting
89assessed in the year to Mar 2025
~26 yrsat current pace
Figures at 31 March 2025 · Source
What they told us

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS FT reported via FOI that it undertakes adult ADHD assessments and undertakes child ADHD assessments. Data shows 89 adult assessments in 2024-25, with 2326 adults waiting (effective wait: 26.1 years), 1861 children waiting, 143 adult assessments in 2023-24, 1732 adults waiting (effective wait: 12.1 years).

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 North East and North Cumbria ICB, shortest first. How Right to Choose works

ProviderWait for assessmentWait 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 listed5 weeksProvider 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 listed18 weeksProvider page
Harley Street Mental Health
No wait (where no IAP in place) National figure - not specific to this area
No wait listed20 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 listedNo waitProvider 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 listed12 weeksProvider 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 listed4 weeksProvider 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 listed4 weeksProvider 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 listedNo waitProvider 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 listedNo waitProvider 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 listed4 weeksProvider page
Dr J and Colleagues
3 to 4 weeks National figure - not specific to this area
2 weeks4 weeksProvider page
Insight Diagnostics
2 weeks after the referral is processed and accepted National figure - not specific to this area
2 weeks10 weeksProvider page
Psicon
Assumes clients return their pre-assessment paperwork National figure - not specific to this area
2 weeks16 weeksProvider page
Skylight Psychiatry
2 weeks National figure - not specific to this area
2 weeks14 weeksProvider 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 weeks11 weeksProvider page
ProblemShared6 weeks32 weeksProvider page
Modality LLP
4-8 weeks depending on ICB National figure - not specific to this area
8 weeksNot knownProvider 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 weeks14 weeksProvider page
Clinical Partners9 weeks39 weeksProvider page
The Retreat Clinic
National figure - not specific to this area
20 weeks4 weeks
Adult ADHD Northwest
Up to 26 weeks from completion of all forms. National figure - not specific to this area
26 weeksNo waitProvider page
Psychiatry-UK
Psychiatry-UK reports 52+ weeks for ADHD in this area (above their 18-20 week standard).
52 weeks48 weeksProvider 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 weeks52 weeksProvider page
ADHD 36078 weeksNo waitProvider page
Berkeley Psychiatrists
Berkeley Psychiatrists lists a minimum wait of 78 weeks for this area due to an ICB cap.
78 weeks1 weekProvider page
The Aspen Clinic
78 weeks National figure - not specific to this area
78 weeksNot knownProvider page
Oakdale Group
78 to 104 weeks National figure - not specific to this area
104 weeks78 weeksProvider 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 known18 weeksProvider 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.

Adults

No clear local pathway

In North Cumbria there is no NHS adult ADHD service and a Right to Choose provider is used instead. Elsewhere only health professionals can refer adults, and the local NHS is finalising caps on Right to Choose assessments for 2026/27.

2 June 2026 · Source

Know of a restriction we've missed? Tell us.

What you can do

1

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 guide
2

Get updates for this area

We'll email you when new figures or restrictions are published for NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, and when complaint letters are ready.

3

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 soon
4

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 4 organisations here. 3 have replied: 0 in full, 3 in part.

OrganisationReplyReceivedDocument
NHS North East and North Cumbria ICBredirected2 June 2026View
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustPartial9 July 2026View
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation TrustPartial17 July 2026View
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustWaiting--
Older figures and records (12)
  • Jun 2026 NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (adults) · Source
    NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB told us via FOI (FOI ICB 26-053, dated 02/06/2026) that it holds no adult ADHD data - held by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS FT and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT. IMPORTANT: "In North Cumbria there is no adult ADHD NHS pathway; a Right to Choose provider is used." The ICB listed 25 RtC providers serving the area and is "working with providers to finalise indicative activity plans for 2026/27". Referral is professional-only into TEWV/CNTW, or GP-to-RtC.
  • Jun 2026 NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (children) · Source
    NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB told us via FOI (FOI ICB 26-053, dated 02/06/2026) that it holds no child ADHD data - held by CNTW and TEWV, plus Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT (the acute provider for North Tyneside). Referrals go to the CYPS service in each locality where clinically appropriate per NICE guidelines.
  • Jul 2024 NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (adults): 11,075 waiting, 643 assessed · Source
    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 Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear had 11075 people waiting with 643 seen in 2023/24. Giving an effective wait time of 17.2 years
  • Jul 2024 NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (adults): 5,315 waiting, 314 assessed · Source
    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 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys had 5315 people waiting with 314 seen in 2023/24. Giving an effective wait time of 16.9 years
  • Mar 2023 Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (adults): 7,267 waiting, 641 assessed · Source
    Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust reported that 641 adult ADHD assessments were carried out in 2023. Around 7,267 adults were reported to be waiting for an ADHD assessment.
  • Mar 2023 South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (adults) · Source
    South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust told us that No adult ADHD assessment activity or waiting list figures were provided in the response.
  • Mar 2023 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (adults) · Source
    Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust told us that No adult ADHD assessment activity or waiting list figures were provided in the response.
  • Mar 2023 NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (adults) · Source
    The NHS North East and North Cumbria 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 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (children) · Source
    Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reported that 505 child ADHD assessments were carried out in 2023. The number of children currently waiting for assessment was not provided.
  • Mar 2023 Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (children): 774 waiting, 685 assessed · Source
    Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust reported that 685 child ADHD assessments were carried out in 2023. Around 774 children were reported to be waiting for an ADHD assessment.
  • Mar 2023 South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (children) · Source
    South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust told us that No child ADHD assessment activity or waiting list figures were provided in the response.
  • Mar 2023 NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB (children) · Source
    The NHS North East and North Cumbria 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.

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