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A new Healthwatch report has found that people living with ADHD in Kent and Medway are facing long waits, limited support and inconsistent communication when trying to access assessment, diagnosis and ongoing care.
Drawing on the experiences of 133 residents, the report highlights how delays and gaps in support are impacting mental health, education, employment and everyday life – and where local services could make meaningful improvements.
Read the full report
The full report, ADHD in Kent and Medway, explores these themes in depth and includes anonymised quotes, detailed analysis and clear recommendations for local action.
About this report
Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway have published a new joint report exploring the lived experiences of people with ADHD across Kent and Medway, including adults, children and young people, and parents and carers.
The report brings together unsolicited feedback from 133 people with ADHD, those awaiting assessment, and families supporting loved ones. Their stories reveal how long waits, unclear processes and limited access to support are affecting wellbeing and quality of life across the area.
Why we looked at ADHD services
Demand for ADHD services has increased significantly in recent years, both locally and nationally. While national reports and taskforce recommendations outline system-wide challenges, people told us it was vital to understand how these issues are being experienced locally.
This report focuses specifically on ADHD services in Kent and Medway, highlighting where pathways.
What people told us
People shared their experiences at every stage of the ADHD pathway – from first asking a GP for a referral, through long waits for assessment, to life after diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
Three clear themes emerged from the feedback:
1. Support and information
Many people told us they felt unsupported and poorly informed, particularly while waiting for an ADHD assessment. A lack of clear information about waiting times, what would happen next, and what support was available left some people feeling forgotten, anxious or distressed.
For some, receiving a diagnosis brought relief, validation and greater self‑understanding. However, others said diagnosis alone did not always lead to meaningful support – particularly for adults, who often reported limited help beyond medication.
Parents and carers of children and young people described mixed experiences. While some shared positive examples of compassionate and understanding care, others highlighted difficulties accessing mental health support and education‑related help without a formal diagnosis.
2. Long and hidden waiting times for assessment
Lengthy waits for ADHD assessments were one of the most common concerns raised. Some people reported waiting several years, describing how uncertainty, delays and lack of progress negatively affected their mental health, education, work and relationships.
People also spoke about a ‘hidden waiting list’ – delays before a referral is properly submitted, processed or accepted. Administrative issues, unclear GP processes and, in some cases, initial refusal of referrals added to already long waits.
The Right to Choose pathway had helped some people access assessments more quickly, but many said they were not told about this option and had to research and navigate the process themselves. Others felt unable to consider private assessments due to cost, raising concerns about a growing two‑tier system.
3. Medication and ongoing care
For those who choose to take ADHD medication, many described it as life‑changing – helping them to concentrate, manage daily tasks and improve their overall quality of life.
However, people also reported long waits to start medication after diagnosis, known as titration, as well as difficulties accessing regular medication reviews. Poor communication and issues with shared care arrangements sometimes left people without the medication they rely on, causing distress and instability.
Why this matters
ADHD can affect every part of a person’s life, including mental health, education, employment, relationships and independence. Long waits and limited support mean many people feel stuck, exhausted and unsure where to turn.
The report shows that clearer communication, better ‘waiting well’ information, stronger primary care pathways and more consistent support before and after diagnosis could make a real difference to people living with ADHD in Kent and Medway.
Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway will use these findings to engage with the NHS, commissioners and local partners, ensuring lived experience helps shape future ADHD services.
What the ICB have said about our ADHD report
Thank you to Healthwatch Kent and Medway for this report and for highlighting the experiences of local residents living with ADHD. We recognise that for many people, accessing assessment, diagnosis and ongoing support has been challenging, with long waits and variable experiences across the system.
Demand for ADHD services has increased significantly in recent years, both locally and nationally, and services have not always had the capacity or workforce to respond quickly enough. We know this has had a real impact on people and families, and we are committed to improving this.
We are also aware that the current landscape—particularly the growth in providers offering assessments through different routes, including Right to Choose—has led to variation in how care is delivered and how people are supported after diagnosis. This can create confusion for patients and challenges for primary care in ensuring safe and consistent prescribing and follow-up.
What we are doing now
We are working with providers across Kent and Medway to better coordinate ADHD assessment and treatment, ensuring available resource is used as effectively as possible.
We are prioritising those who have been waiting the longest, as well as people with the greatest clinical need, to improve equity of access.
We are strengthening support and guidance for primary care to help ensure patients receive safe and appropriate ongoing care following diagnosis.
What happens next
During 2026/27 and into 2027/28, we will design and implement a new, joined-up ADHD care pathway across Kent and Medway.
This will bring together primary care, mental health services and specialist providers to provide clearer routes into care and more consistent support.
The new pathway will also include support for individuals who do not meet the threshold for diagnosis, ensuring they are not left without help.
Our aim is to create a more consistent, locally coordinated service that reduces waiting times, improves communication and information for patients, and provides better support for medication and ongoing care.
We welcome the insights from this report and will continue to work with Healthwatch, clinicians and people with lived experience to shape and improve services
