ADHD taskforce
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined by the World Health Organization as a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning. Around 1 in 20 children are estimated to be impacted by ADHD globally.
The number of referrals for ADHD assessments and treatment, as well as the number of prescriptions provided, has increased significantly. This trend is being seen internationally, and while local NHS teams have been working hard to increase capacity – including referrals to independent services – waiting lists and times have grown. There have also been global medication supply shortages, which have impacted some patients.
Work to address challenges in ADHD care
To better understand the issues, NHS England initiated a rapid piece of work in to consider ADHD service provision within the NHS. The initial phase of work identified challenges with:
- current service models and the ability to keep pace with demand
- lack of reliable data to fully understand the size of the challenge
- the rate of growth within the independent sector and the potential variation in the service models and thresholds being used
- the balance between use of medication and therapeutic treatment options
- variation in access, experience, and outcomes for different populations
- the join-up across ADHD services and inter-related policies across health, care, education and justice systems
In response to these initial findings, the NHS England Board agreed to launch a new ADHD Taskforce in March 2024. The purpose of the Taskforce is to work alongside government, the NHS, voluntary sector and experts by experience to identify ways to improve care for people living with ADHD.
The work of the Taskforce is supported by and aligned to a programme within NHS England which is also working with stakeholders to:
- improve the data the NHS collects and analyses on ADHD services
- further map out who provides ADHD services and how they are commissioned locally
- capture and spread best practice and innovative ways of delivering ADHD services
ADHD Taskforce
The ADHD Taskforce, launched together with government, brings together those with lived experience, experts from the NHS, education, charity and justice sectors. The taskforce will try to gain a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including access to services and support.
Professor Anita Thapar chairs the taskforce. She is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a professor at the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University.
She is currently co-chair on the Welsh Government Neurodivergence Ministerial Advisory Group and on the Welsh Government Clinical Advisory Group for ADHD assessment and support. She is also a member of the UK Embracing Complexity Neurodivergence Steering Group.
ADHD Taskforce membership
The main Taskforce group is supported by 3 groups:
- 2 subgroups bringing together ‘experts by experience’ and ‘experts in evidence’
- the Experts by Experience subgroup brings together people who live with ADHD, or support others who do, to ensure that the Taskforce is guided by real-world experience of care
- The Experts in Evidence subgroup brings together people who lead the study of ADHD, to ensure the taskforce’s work takes account of the best available research and evidence
- a clinical reference group, bringing together senior clinicians with working knowledge of NHS ADHD care
Details of membership of the groups can be viewed further down this page.
Terms of reference
Blogs
- Professor Anita Tharpar, An update on the work of the ADHD Taskforce (March 2025)
Next steps
In 2025, the Taskforce is expected to publish an interim report for feedback, ahead of a final report later in the year.
NHS England will assess and respond to the Taskforce’s report after it is published. In addition and alongside this, NHS England’s ADHD Improvement Programme also intends to:
- share a supplier list and commissioning framework with integrated care boards
- finalise a data improvement plan and begin to publish monthly statistics on ADHD care, which will continue to be refined
- assess further actions required following the publication of the 10 Year Health Plan
ADHD Taskforce membership
- Professor Anita Thapar – Taskforce Chair
- Char Bailey – Expert by Experience
- Dr Lucy Clement, GP – Expert by Experience
- Tamsin Crook, Parent – Expert by Experience
- Dan Harris, Chair of Neurodiversity in Business – Expert by Experience
- Keith Fraser, Chair of Youth Justice Board – Expert by Experience
- Adrian James, Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity, NHS England
- Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England
- Louise Ansari, Chief Executive, Healthwatch England
- Thea Stein, Chief Executive, Nuffield Trust
- Jawad Choudhury – Expert by Experience, Youth Member
The Experts by Experience subgroup brings together people who live with ADHD, or support others who do, to ensure that the Taskforce is guided by real-world experience of care.
Members of this subgroup are:
- Atif Choudhury – Chief Executive and Co-founder, Diversity and Ability
- Carl Mumford – ADHD Alliance Founder
- Char Bailey (Chair)
- Christine Lock – Co-Founder, Matthew Lock ADHD Charity
- Jacqui Watt – Participation Lead, National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF)
- James Brown – Founder, ADHD adultUK and Associate Professor in Biosciences, Aston University
- James Cusack – Chief Executive, Autistica
- Lindsey Roberts – Acting Chief Executive, ADHD Foundation
- Lynn Perry – Chief Executive, Barnardos
- Neal Mankey – Chairman – ADHD UK
- Paul Callaghan – Policy Manager, Healthwatch England
- Rachel Hale – Lead Community Mental Health Builder, Nova
- Richard Lock – Co-Founder, Matthew Lock ADHD Charity
- Rita Hirani – Chief Executive, Mindout
- Sophie Cartledge – Founder and Hormone Health and Menopause Educator, Hormones on the Blink
- Ste Wynne – CYWP Trainee – Young Person’s Advisory Service
- Susan Morua – Bristol ADHD Support Group
- Tamsin Crook – Consultant, Making Careers Work
- Vivienne Isebor – Founder and Managing Director, ADHD Babes
The Experts in Evidence subgroup brings together people who lead the study of ADHD, to ensure the taskforce’s work takes account of the best available research and evidence.
Members of this subgroup are:
- Dr Alessio Bellato – Honorary Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham
- Dr Ariadna Albajara Saenz – Postdoctoral researcher, University of Cambridge
- Dr Blandine French – Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham
- Dr Sunil Gupta – GP Clinical Adviser, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- Eddie Alder – Programme Delivery Director, Health Innovation Network, East Midlands
- Prof Anita Thapar – Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cardiff University
- Prof Chris Hollis – Chair of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Digital Mental Health, University of Nottingham
- Prof David Daley – Professor of Psychological Intervention and Applied Psychological Practice, Nottingham Trent University
- Prof Samuele Cortese – Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Southampton
- Prof Tamsin Jane Ford (Chair) – Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Head of Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge