Adult ADHD Consultation
We want to improve services for Adults with ADHD across Greater Manchester. Following engagement with patients, relevant NHS specialists, partners and stakeholders, we ran a consultation in spring 2025 on a new model of care and a number of options for how the model was delivered.
Over 2,500 people shared their views in a number of ways. This information will help inform how we improve Adult ADHD services across Greater Manchester.
Why the services are being reviewed
We are reviewing adult ADHD services because a lot more people are now being referred than the services were originally designed for. This means that waiting times are getting longer and because people are not getting support whilst they are waiting, some people are really struggling.
Our best estimate is that there are up to 25,000 people waiting across Greater Manchester, with that figure growing every day. If the way we deliver services stay as they currently are, people could be waiting over 7 years for assessment and diagnosis.
To watch this video in full screen, please watch it in YouTube.
We are worried that this means that some people who are waiting desperately need help and are at risk of coming to harm, and this isn’t ok.
If the demand for ADHD services continues at the current levels, it would also cost the NHS in Greater Manchester at least £10 million a year to fund assessment services and we will continue to have too few staff to see people quickly. This situation is the same across the country and is not unique to GM.
Adult ADHD services in Greater Manchester urgently need to change so they can better support the people who need them.
We gathered views from many partners to develop a new model of care and 2 options for consultation.
To find out more about the consultation and what we consulted on, please see the "Consultation Information" section below. Or click on the button to read the consultation document.
Our vision for adult ADHD services
We want to improve access to support, diagnostics and treatment for ADHD to those that need it and we want this to be equitable and consistent across Greater Manchester localities.
We want a service that understands and responds to the needs of individuals and is not a ‘one size fits all’.
This includes an offer of support for everyone and a diagnosis for those who need it most.
We will achieve this by:
- Prioritising access for individuals on the waiting lists who are in the most clinical need.
- Introducing a newly commissioned Greater Manchester Adult ADHD Triage Team of Mental Health Practitioners who would undertake face-to-face detailed assessments that support GPs and patients by prioritising those patients who are most at risk and have the highest clinical need, with clear criteria for eligibility for NHS-funded assessments and treatment.
- Ensuring there is an appropriate support offer for people who do not meet the criteria for diagnosis.
Consultation feedback: what people told us
The 8-week consultation was to hear the public’s views on 2 proposed options for how current services can be improved, proposed referral criteria, and ideas and feedback on what support would be helpful to people with ADHD.
Over 2,500 people engaged with NHS Greater Manchester in a variety of ways, including: focus groups, community group workshops, online survey, texts, phone calls, emails, and at pop-up stalls across Greater Manchester.
The feedback has been used along with clinical and service evidence to review the proposals and make the final decision on the how adult ADHD services will be improved.
What people told us
Overall, people strongly agree with the principles of the proposed model which include quicker access to support and prioritising those most in need. We heard that there is a need for an improved, more caring service that supports everyone with ADHD symptoms, regardless of whether they are diagnosed.
You can find out more in the drop down boxes below, or by reading the summary of full consultation reports.
For other versions of the report, please see the section "What people told us" below.
Next steps
This review of adult ADHD services is now complete and implementation of the new model of care for adults with ADHD is beginning.
Phases
What people told us
Consultation findings
The consultation has now ended. Thank you to all those who took part. The full consultation report is now available at the bottom of this page detailing the findings. We will shortly be sharing an easy read, BSL, and film summary version of the report.
All documents can be found below and are downloadable.
If you wish to contact us to request this in alternative languages/formats, please do so by contacting us via our phone number or WhatsApp 07786673762 or email us gmhscp.engagement@nhs.net
Upcoming and ongoing events
Past events
Event date: June 18th, 2025 from 08:00 to 16:00.
Merseyway Shopping Centre
4 registrants
Event date: June 12th, 2025 from 17:00 to 18:30.
Friends' Meeting House
17 registrants
Event date: June 12th, 2025 from 09:30 to 11:00.
125 Deansgate
Event date: June 9th, 2025 from 12:00 to 14:00.
Event date: June 4th, 2025 from 12:00 to 14:00.
The Anthony Seddon Centre
Event date: June 3rd, 2025 from 09:00 to 10:30.
3 registrants
Event date: May 28th, 2025 from 12:00 to 13:30.
The Mosses Centre
12 registrants
Event date: May 28th, 2025 from 09:00 to 12:00.
Emmaus Salford Community Homestore
Event date: May 27th, 2025 from 09:30 to 11:30.
Limelight Health and Well-being Hub
Event date: May 22nd, 2025 from 09:00 to 12:00.
Wythenshawe Hospital
Event date: May 20th, 2025 from 10:00 to 13:00.
Rochdale Infirmary
Event date: May 20th, 2025 from 09:30 to 11:00.
Centre of Wellbeing
12 registrants
Event date: May 14th, 2025 from 09:00 to 12:00.
Pendleton Gateway