Streeting made the comments during an interview with BBC Radio Oxford where adult referrals have been paused since 2024.

He said: ‘We're trying to, as a government, understand what's driving this increase.

‘Is it simply awareness and a positive awareness that means that people who would have just gone unsupported and undiagnosed are just now realising that they may well have ADHD?

‘And then secondly, meeting the demand because we're really falling short on this in the NHS, so we are looking at this nationally.'

An inquiry into autism and ADHD services was launched in December following soaring demand for assessment.

An Oxford Health Foundation Trust (OHFT) spokesperson said: ‘We paused our service in 2024 in order to properly and safely manage a backlog of referrals.

‘Since then, in addition to assessing these referrals, we have been working with the ICB to design a service for the Thames Valley.'

A Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) ICB spokesperson said: ‘BOB ICB is currently reviewing ADHD services across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West to ensure we can deliver the most efficient and effective service within our current funding. This is a national problem as ADHD receives no separate funding from NHS England, and the large rise in requests of diagnosis of ADHD has overwhelmed our commissioned services.

‘We have established an ADHD Steering Group which consists of OHFT and Berkshire Health Care Foundation Trust which provide adult ADHD services across BOB. The ICB is committed to hearing the voice of our population; within the ADHD Steering Group there are lived experience representatives.

‘Our aim is to address the current issues where we can and to develop a new model of ADHD service.'

Private assessments 

In further news, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) told The Guardian it was struggling to cope with the growing number of ADHD patients being sent back to the trust from private clinics.

An MPFT spokesperson told us: ‘MPFT recognises the high demand ADHD services are experiencing nationally and this situation is reflected in our services locally. Our priority remains ensuring the right care and support is available to patients, and we continue to work closely with partners to develop and enhance provisions locally.

‘We apologise to patients who are experiencing delays. In the event a shared care arrangement cannot be fulfilled, MPFT will always endeavour to ensure the medical and treatment needs of patients are met in a timely way.'

In response to high demand, MPFT has developed a digital tool that utilises technology to provide efficient processes for the integration, triage and assessment of adults referred for autism, ADHD, or mental health assessments.