ADHD Services Under Pressure

What Recent BBC Reporting Means for Those Left Waiting

A recent BBC investigation has brought national attention to something many families and adults have been experiencing for far too long. ADHD services in several parts of England have reached a point where they can no longer cope with the growing demand. Some areas have stopped accepting new NHS referrals altogether, while others have introduced tighter criteria because their waiting lists are already unmanageable. The result is that many people are being left without a clear route to support, unsure when they will be assessed or even whether they will be accepted onto a waiting list in the first place.

For anyone trying to understand their difficulties, or for parents supporting a child who is struggling, this situation can feel incredibly disheartening. The uncertainty, the lack of communication, and the feeling of being left to cope alone can take a real toll.

Coaching is one of the few forms of practical support people can access immediately; no referral is needed, and no diagnosis is required to begin. Many adults and students come to coaching because they cannot afford to wait years to start understanding why things feel so difficult. Coaching provides a space to explore how their brain works, identify the barriers that keep getting in the way, and build strategies that make everyday life more manageable. It also gives them a sense of progress at a time when everything else feels stuck.

If anything, the BBC report highlights how important early and accessible support is. While we all hope to see improvements in NHS ADHD provision, people still need help now. Coaching cannot replace the diagnostic pathway, but it can offer reassurance, direction, and practical tools during what can otherwise be a very long and frustrating wait.

My aim is always to provide a safe, supportive environment where people feel understood and can begin moving forwards, whether they are waiting for an assessment or already have a diagnosis.

If you would like to learn more about ADHD coaching for adults or students, please feel free to get in touch. I am always happy to answer questions or talk through what the process involves.

If you want to read the BBC article in full, here is the link:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpl150ze4o