NHS waiting times in Leeds for ADHD
The NHS adult ADHD service in Leeds is closed to new referrals
The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust adult ADHD service has been closed to new referrals since October 2024. LYPFT has confirmed that anyone joining the waiting list now would face a wait of well over 10 years. Right to Choose is currently the only NHS-funded route available to new adult patients in Leeds.
LYPFT closed its adult ADHD service to new referrals on 11 October 2024. Approximately 4,000 people are already on the waiting list. The service can assess around 16 patients per month against approximately 170 new referrals per month, a ratio that made the waiting list functionally unsustainable. LYPFT has written to all existing waiting list patients and is prioritising by clinical need.
Leeds represents one of the most acute adult ADHD access crises in England. The service closure has been publicly confirmed and reaffirmed by LYPFT as recently as March 2026, with no announced reopening timeline. Right to Choose remains a legal right and the primary NHS-funded alternative.
LYPFT's adult ADHD service has been closed to new referrals since October 2024 with no announced reopening date. Right to Choose is actively promoted by LYPFT and local GPs as the alternative NHS-funded route.
Your options in Leeds
There are currently several routes to an adult ADHD assessment for people in Leeds.
Service closed to new referrals since October 2024. LYPFT states anyone joining now would wait well over 10 years.
No new referrals accepted. Existing waiting list only, prioritised by clinical need.
Approximately 44 weeks through Right to Choose providers in West Yorkshire ICB
Right to Choose is currently the only NHS-funded route available to new adult patients in Leeds. West Yorkshire ICB providers are operating within Indicative Activity Plans for 2026/27.
Within days
Private assessment by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist. £799 all inclusive. Full report within 7 days. No referral needed.
Ready to book your Leeds assessment?
Available by video call. No referral needed. Report within 7 days.
What a Distinct assessment involves
A Distinct assessment is a 60 to 90 minute structured clinical interview conducted by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist via secure video call. It uses the DIVA-5 diagnostic interview alongside validated symptom rating scales, following DSM-5 criteria throughout. You can attend from anywhere in England including Leeds, without travelling.
Before your appointment you complete a pre-assessment questionnaire covering your symptoms, history, and daily functioning. At the end of the consultation your psychiatrist shares their clinical conclusion verbally. Your full written report follows within 7 days.
All Distinct assessments are conducted directly by the consultant psychiatrist, not reviewed or countersigned by one. This distinction matters for GP acceptance and shared-care prescribing. Given that Leeds has no functioning NHS ADHD service, the clinical authority of your report has a direct bearing on the support you can access afterwards.
Your report and what it enables
Your written diagnostic report is delivered within 7 days of your consultation. It covers your symptom history, the DSM-5 criteria met, the impact on your daily functioning, and clinical recommendations for next steps. It includes a letter addressed to your GP summarising the findings.
Your report can also be used for workplace adjustments under the Equality Act, Disabled Students' Allowance applications, and DVLA disclosure where required. There is no time limit on when you can use it.
Most Leeds GPs will accept a diagnosis from a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist for shared-care prescribing. NHS England guidance indicates GPs should not normally refuse prescribing following a diagnosis from a qualified specialist. We recommend discussing shared-care with your practice alongside booking your assessment. More on sharing your report with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
NHS waiting time data for Leeds reflects publicly available information from Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the relevant ICB, current as of April 2026. Waiting times change and we recommend verifying current figures directly with your GP or the relevant trust.