Community Paediatrics and Neurodisability Service

ADHD and Autism Waiting Times

Published 23 January 2025

At Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, we are committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care for children and young people in assessment and care for Autism and ADHD.

Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of children referred to our Autism and ADHD assessment services, reflecting a national trend. Referrals have grown from approximately 1,500 in 2019/20 to 4,600 in the past 12 months. This rise demonstrates a greater awareness and understanding of neurodevelopmental needs, which is an encouraging step towards inclusion, but it has also brought challenges.

We understand that waiting for an assessment can be deeply frustrating and distressing for families. Our current waiting times for Autism and ADHD assessments range from three to in excess of eight years, with those being referred in most recently waiting the longest. Please be assured that we see and hear your concerns, and we are sincerely sorry for the impact this delay may have on your child and family.

We are actively working to reduce the waiting time for assessment. We’ve expanded our team, enhanced our service capacity, and are collaborating with local partners, including the Sheffield Parent Carer Forum to provide support for families both before and after assessment has taken place. These efforts have enabled us to support more children than ever before, but we know there is more to do. We remain committed to advocating for increased resources to improve waiting times and deliver timely care.

Support While You Wait

While waiting for an assessment, there are resources and services available to support you and your child. Many of these services do not require a formal diagnosis.

• Sheffield City Council’s Local Offer: Explore resources and services tailored to children with additional needs. Visit Local Offer | Sheffield Directory .
• Sheffield Parent Carer Forum: Provide a Peer Support Service which offers information, support, and signposting. Reach out via phone at 0300 321 4721 (select option 1) or email peersupport@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk.

Your Right to Choose

Moving Forward Together

If your child is already on our waiting list, there is no need to take further action—we will contact you as your appointment approaches. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding as our teams work hard to support every child and family.

We will continue to provide updates on our progress and share news about service improvements on this website page. Should you have any specific questions, please contact us via this online form and we will respond as soon as we can.

Thank you for trusting us to support your child’s journey. We are here to help and remain committed to providing a healthier future for every child in our care.