The charity says West Yorkshire’s integrated care board breached equalities and consultation rules by introducing a minimum wait for autism and ADHD assessments.
ADHD UK has threatened legal action against West Yorkshire’s integrated care board over a policy that sets a minimum two-year wait for autism and ADHD assessments, escalating a dispute that has become part of a wider national backlash over NHS rationing of neurodevelopmental care. The policy, introduced earlier this year, affects patients in Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield.
According to The Guardian, the charity has sent the board a formal notice and warned that it is “prepared to go to court” if the decision is not reversed. Henry Shelford, the charity’s chief executive, said the group intends to seek a judicial review, arguing that the process used to bring in the policy was completed “incorrectly” and, in some cases, “improperly”. ADHD UK says the board breached equalities law, prevented patients from using their legal right to choose non-NHS care, failed to involve patients and the public, and violated NHS contract rules.
The move comes against a backdrop of growing concern about access to assessments across England. The BMJ reported that 15 integrated care boards, covering about 19 million people, have introduced some form of rationing for autism and ADHD services. Four of them , West Yorkshire, North East and North Cumbria, Somerset and Devon , have imposed minimum waits of two years for assessment, while others have relied on clinical prioritisation systems that restrict access to those judged to have the most serious needs.
West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has defended its approach, saying it is trying to reduce large inequalities in waiting times while coping with rising demand and costs. In a statement on its website, the board said it had held community engagement exercises, including two neurodiversity summits, and had put in place safeguards for urgent clinical cases. It also said it had committed more than £4m in additional investment this year and was developing neurodiversity hubs aimed at providing earlier, needs-based support.
The dispute also reflects a broader policy shift that could reshape autism and ADHD support in the NHS. A government review led by Professor Peter Fonagy is expected to recommend a needs-based system in which patients are triaged and can receive support without first obtaining a formal diagnosis. For campaigners, that approach may offer a route towards earlier help; for commissioners, it may be one answer to a service model under severe pressure. West Yorkshire ICB declined to comment further because the matter may now become subject to legal proceedings.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
