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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ADHD Waiting List Crisis in Glasgow: 551% Increase and Rising Wait Times

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Glasgow's National Health Service (NHS) is grappling with a critical shortage of ADHD assessments, with a 551% increase in the number of adults waiting to be seen over the past four years. The number of people on the waiting list has skyrocketed from 750 in 2021 to 4,883 in 2025, with an average wait time of 1,246 days. This crisis has been exacerbated by the fact that NHS staff are doing "all they can" to deal with rising demand, but waiting times have increased by 424% over the same period.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of adults waiting to be assessed for ADHD in Glasgow has increased by 551% over the past four years, from 750 in 2021 to 4,883 in 2025.
  • The average wait time for an ADHD assessment in Glasgow City has increased by 424% over the same period, from 238 days in 2021 to 1,246 days in 2025.
  • Paul Ginsberg, an ADHD life coach and volunteer with the Scottish ADHD Coalition, stated that ADHD assessment teams often fail to come to a "combined and holistic diagnosis" and that it is rare for neurodivergencies (ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, giftedness, and Tourettes) to travel alone.
  • Ginsberg noted that around 50% of people with ADHD also have autism, which can complicate diagnoses and lead to inefficient use of NHS resources.
  • The number of assessments and diagnoses in Glasgow City has actually decreased when compared to 2021, with 101 assessments carried out and 58 people diagnosed with ADHD in the first nine months of 2025.
  • The NHS board's Freedom of Information response stated that doctors do not have to provide a reason for referral, which may underrepresent the true number of children referred for ADHD or autism assessments.

Statistics:

  • 750 people were on the ADHD waiting list in Glasgow in 2021, which increased to 4,883 in 2025, a 551% increase.
  • The average wait time for an ADHD assessment in Glasgow City increased from 238 days in 2021 to 1,246 days in 2025, a 424% increase.
  • 129 adults were waiting for ADHD assessments in Renfrewshire in 2021, which increased to 1,815 in 2025, a 1,313% increase.
  • 40 people were waiting for ADHD assessments in East Renfrewshire in 2021, which increased to 503 in 2025, a 1,256% increase.
  • 77 people were waiting for ADHD assessments in Inverclyde in 2021, which increased to 226 in 2025, a 194% increase.
  • 45 people were waiting for ADHD assessments in West Dunbartonshire in 2021, which increased to 248 in 2025, a 451% increase.

Sources:

  • "Adrenaline-fueled Parliament A Typical Hearing" by The Herald
  • "Waiting times rise for ADHD and autism assessments" by The Herald
  • Freedom of Information response from Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board

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