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ADHD Diagnosis
20 January 2026
Lead MP
Bill Esterson
Sefton Central
Lab
Responding Minister
Dr Zubir Ahmed
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 9299
Other Contributors: 25
At a Glance
Bill Esterson raised concerns about adhd diagnosis in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP asks the government to improve local NHS provision of ADHD assessments and ensure that children and adults get timely diagnosis and support.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
A 19-year-old constituent of Bill Esterson's, Matty Lock, took his own life in September 2023. Matty was diagnosed with autism at age 14 but not ADHD until later. The Matthew Lock ADHD Charity highlights the link between suicide and ADHD. About 700,000 people are waiting for a diagnosis, with nearly two-thirds having waited more than a year.
Adam Dance
LD
Yeovil
Higher ADHD diagnosis rates reflect greater awareness, not overdiagnosis. The crisis lies in under-recognition and lack of support for many people with ADHD, leading to dire consequences such as involvement with county lines gangs.
Adrian Ramsay
Green
Waveney Valley
Asked if a child’s access to diagnosis and support should depend on where they live or whether their parents can afford to go private, agreeing that everyone should have equal access to essential healthcare.
Alex Easton
Ind
North Down
The hon. Member highlighted the issue in Northern Ireland where about 83,000 people are estimated to have ADHD but many remain undiagnosed, particularly women and girls, urging for clear, consistent diagnostic pathways.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Mid Cheshire
Mr. Cooper highlights barriers and gatekeeping practices in the ADHD pathway, such as schools refusing referrals or GPs minimising symptoms, which lead to wider mental health problems in the long term.
Thanked all participants and highlighted the benefits of treatment and medication as described by a constituent, calling for early implementation of findings.
Connor Rand
Lab
Altrincham and Sale West
Raises inconsistency issues in care caused by long waiting times; some turn to private diagnosis but face refusal from GPs, leading to high treatment costs.
Ahmed
Lab
Discussed the need for work on ADHD outcomes to dovetail with prevalence review and highlighted the independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism launched by the Secretary of State.
Evans
Lab
Asked for a timescale on the Government's response to ADHD taskforce recommendations.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Questions the Government about their response to the recommendations of the independent ADHD taskforce, the timeline for commissioning an independent review into autism and ADHD, and accountability in reducing long waits for ADHD assessments.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
The hon. Member noted that despite Scottish Education Ministers' claims, a diagnosis was often required in Scotland to get the right support, highlighting more than 40,000 children waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments.
Epsom and Ewell
NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB paused assessments until April 2026, causing major disruption. The hon. Member agrees that the Government must set out plans to improve local NHS provision of ADHD assessments.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Highlighted delays in ADHD diagnosis negatively impacting educational attainment, mental health, employment prospects and personal relationships. Discussed NHS estimates suggesting 2.5 million people have ADHD but demand outstrips capacity. Asked about an impact assessment of ADHD in the prison population and its implications on crime prevention.
Jack Abbott
Lab/Co-op
Ipswich
After diagnosis, people face new barriers in accessing treatment. A survey by Healthwatch Suffolk found only 40% received prescriptions or monitoring from their GP after shared care agreements ended.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasises that early diagnosis is crucial as every child with ADHD has a different level of condition, and it enables the education system to respond specifically for each child.
Jo Platt
Lab/Co-op
Leigh and Atherton
Rise to speak as chair of the APPG on ADHD, understanding the difference support makes and consequences when it is missing.
Jodie Gosling
Lab
Nuneaton
Ms. Gosling discusses the Catch-22 situation with ADHD waiting lists in Warwickshire, where referrals for under-sevens are often not accepted despite evidence showing early interventions being most impactful.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
The hon. Member pointed out that despite official guidelines, local authorities often require formal diagnoses of ADHD for education, health and care plans, leading to a 'Catch-22' situation with long waiting times.
Josh Dean
Lab
Hertford and Stortford
Mr. Dean shares his personal experience of being diagnosed with ADHD and the emotional impact of taking medication for the first time, highlighting how diagnosis can be a gateway to support.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Discussed alternative learning projects in her constituency that transform children's experiences and suggested doing more such programs to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
The hon. Member agreed with the lead MP on understanding and fixing the system with empathy rather than blaming parents and supported the idea of using GP diagnosis to speed up waiting times.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Declared an interest as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for special educational needs and disabilities, sharing personal experience with ADHD to highlight transformative impact of timely diagnosis and support. Suggested looking at cross-Government working, particularly Access to Work for self-employed individuals.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Shares personal experience of his son being diagnosed with ADHD at university, stressing the need for increased awareness among parents, guardians, medical professionals, and government.
Rachel Taylor
Lab
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Coventry and Warwickshire ICB paused new adult ADHD referrals so it could prioritise children. Referrals for adults will restart in May, highlighting the need to get the balance right.
Sarah Hall
Lab/Co-op
Warrington South
Ms. Hall expresses concern about the sharp rise in demand for ADHD assessments and waits of up to six years, stressing the difficulties in navigating a system that often does not join up or listen properly.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
The hon. Member shared stories of long waiting lists and closed waiting lists in her local area and suggested implementing existing recommendations from previous reports while further evidence is sought.
Government Response
Dr Zubir Ahmed
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Government Response
Acknowledges the debate's importance on ADHD, commits to delivering the suicide prevention strategy for England, stabilising and improving NHS mental health services, and ensuring people with ADHD have the right support including their mental health needs. The Government is committed to a new approach to mental health. Discussed the need for work on ADHD outcomes to dovetail with prevalence review, highlighted the independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism launched by the Secretary of State, acknowledged the impact of delays in accessing assessments and diagnosis, and committed to a parity of esteem with any physical health condition or issue.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.