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Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) service
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About the service
The team’s main base is in Manygates Clinic, Wakefield, with additional community bases in Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Halifax and Barnsley.
The service was established in April 2009. Our team has a multidisciplinary workforce and is leading innovation and research in ADHD. We are friendly, approachable and our multidisciplinary team of Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists and Administration staff always put the needs of service users and their family or carers first.
Specialist social work support is also available from the team or from our local authority partners, depending upon the area of residence. The team has established links with local service user support networks and agencies. These positive relationships enable us signpost or refer individuals to other appropriate local community services.
Our service has three clear ADHD pathways that are fully compliant with all National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance (NICE) and provide an accessible service to our local communities, with a combination of face to face, video and telephone appointments available.
An ADHD transition pathway for young people moving from local children’s services to this service. This locally designed pathway is recommended by NICE and includes an initial joint meeting with the young person, their family, a healthcare professional from the children’s service and a representative of our service to enable introductions to take place and relevant information to be shared.
A diagnostic pathway for adults seeking a new diagnostic assessment. The service delivers quality assessments that meet relevant professional guidelines and national standards: ADHD Diagnosis & Management (NG87)
A medication pathway. For those receiving a diagnosis from this Service, we offer medication initiation and titration with annual medication reviews as recommended by NICE. We do not routinely provide a medication service to people who have received a diagnosis from another provider, but we do consider referrals on a case-by-case basis.
Our reputation and expertise enables us to have Shared Care Agreements in place with local GP practices ensuring service users have easy access to NHS funded medication with regular titration reviews.
What can be provided will depend on what your NHS commissioner is able to fund for you.
Why would someone choose the service?
The service for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a specialist service dedicated to supporting:
- Young people moving from children to adult services
- Adults previously diagnosed with ADHD requesting referral back to services
- Adults seeking a new diagnostic assessment
The Service was established in April 2009. Our team has a multidisciplinary workforce and is leading innovation and research in ADHD. We are friendly, approachable and our team always put the needs of service users, their family or carers first.
The Service has clear pathways and outcome measures in place. Our reputation and expertise enables us to have Shared Care Agreements in place with all local GP practices ensuring service users have easy access to NHS funded medication with regular titration reviews.
Our ADHD pathways are fully compliant with all National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance and provide an accessible service to our local communities, with a combination of face to face, video and telephone appointments available.
The Service delivers quality assessments that meet relevant professional guidelines and standards. These standards are in this document.
For young people who are transitioning from children’s service to adult services, our ADHD Transition Pathway is recommended by NICE.
The pathway includes an initial joint meeting with the young person, their family, a healthcare professional from the children’s service and a representative of our service to enable introductions to take place and relevant information to be shared.
Staff you may meet
- Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.
- There are more than 60 different specialities that doctors work within the NHS. Each is unique but there are many characteristics which are common. Roles range from working in a hospital to being based in the community as a GP.
- Nurses who choose to specialise in the mental health branch of nursing work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients. Increasingly, care is given in the community, with mental health nurses visiting patients and their families at home, in residential centres, in prisons or in specialist clinics or units.
- A pharmacist is an expert in medicines and their use. They work to ensure that patients get the maximum benefit from their medicines and can practice in hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy or in primary care pharmacy.
- Works closely with other registered professionals under the direction of a supervising of a GMC-registered doctor, such as a consultant or general practitioner, who maintains overall responsibility for patient care. The role aims to enhance patient access and continuity of care by managing patients with acute and/or chronic conditions according to established protocols.
- Adult psychotherapists work with people to assess and treat a range of emotional, social or mental health issues. They help people tackle problems such as behavioural issues, common challenges such as anxiety and depression or more complex or severe issues, such as psychosis or a personality disorder diagnosis.
- Receptionists are the first link for many patients and visitors. They often work on their own or with one or two other receptionists, greeting patients as they arrive and check them in. They might also collect patient notes and ensure that these vital records go to the right healthcare professional. In a clinic, they may make appointments and arrange patient transport.
- Social workers help, support and protect people who are facing difficulties in their lives. They help people to take positive steps to overcome problems and improve their lives. This could involve assessing and reviewing a service user’s situation, building relationships with service users and their families and agreeing what practical support someone needs.
Referrals accepted from:
Consultants, GPs
Referral criteria:
Our service is for adults who are 18 or above, who do not have a learning disability.
Adults with a learning disability can receive support from specialist learning disability services. Under 18’s can be referred to local children’s services.
Many GP practices are able to refer directly to the Service using an electronic referral form. For those who do not have this facility, referrals can be made directly to the service or via the Trust’s single point of access team using the form below:
We are unable to accept self-referrals. If you would like to be referred, please speak to your GP.
What to expect when we receive your referral
Each referral is reviewed and prioritised based on clinical needs relating to ADHD. Those with medium or high risks are seen first and are usually contacted within eight weeks. Others are added to the waiting list. See “waiting times” for more details of how long your wait might be.
When we contact you, we will ask you to complete some self-questionnaires, this is to help us understand more about your symptoms and how we can help. We need this information to be completed before any treatment or assessment process can start and we can help you to complete it, if needed.
Young people transitioning from children’s services are invited to a first appointment. For your convenience this is usually a video call, but it can be face to face if requested. This appointment is recommended by NICE Transition from child to adult services (NG43) and is to review the holistic needs of the young person and any medication requirements they may have. This is usually the only appointment needed unless titration of medication is required.
Adults referred to the Service for a diagnostic assessment are also invited to a first appointment when their pack is returned. For your convenience this is usually a video call, but it can be face to face if requested.
Approximately 80% of adult referrals go on to require further assessment. These appointments are likely to be a face-to-face appointments at one of our clinic’s closest to your home, but it can be via video call if clinically appropriate.
If it is determined that you do not have ADHD, you will be informed and you may be signposted to an appropriate service.
If you do receive a diagnosis of ADHD you will receive information regarding medication and the side effects this might have. If you opt for medication, you will be offered titration appointments with a doctor or nurse prescriber to determine the right dose of medication for you. The impact of the medication on your physical health will also be monitored.
When you are happy with the medication dose, the Service will request to enter a Shared Care Agreement with your GP meaning you can receive regular prescriptions from your GP. The agreement requires that we will review your medication on an annual basis, we will contact you to invite you to an appointment for this.
- ADHD: medicines to help the symptoms of ADHD booklet
- Useful links – while you wait for assessment
- ADHD pathway for adults: support for carers
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - NHS
Service user and carer feedback is very important to us. All feedback is welcomed and can help us to improve our service.
Please note that the feedback described here may relate to the ADHD and/or Autism pathway, some feedback is anonymous and it is not always possible to identify the relevant pathway included in comments.
Long waiting times for assessment are a national problem and despite expanding our team to increase the number of assessments we can carry out, demand remains extremely high. We appreciate that this is frustrating and we are working with partners to find solutions. Please see the link to Waiting Times on the page for more information on waiting times in your area.
Recent feedback:
“I wanted to thank the dedicated team who have supported me in finding the support I’ve clearly needed for a long time. I am now at a point where my life has improved drastically, with the help of medication and a deeper understanding of my ADHD. I was under the care of XX who was fantastic throughout, providing not only the right guidance and support, but also some enlightening insight into how neurodiversity can play such a complex role in people’s lives, and how it can be managed, and ultimately treated.” – , May 24.
“Can we personally thank you for all the time, advice and support you have given our family and particularly my brother. We have never had such support for him. He has almost reached 60 years of age before he was given any guidance and support, regarding his needs with his health. You have made such a difference to his confidence and his wellbeing. Every one of you that has visited and supported him are incredibly helpful and have such a wonderful manner about you. XX, we have no words for you! You are an absolute credit to your profession and we cannot thank you enough.” – , June 24
“I was hoping that you could pass this email on to **** and the other autism assessors/ occupational therapist. I wanted to let them know, and the wider service that your support has been life changing and I feel that my life has begun at 49….I really just wanted to say thank you. I know dealing with the public is super hard and stressful, you do such a life changing and valuable job every day. I also wanted to say thank you to the person that picks up the phone in reception because I might not have made my first assessment appointment, she was so lovely and patient on the phone that it gave me the courage to do so.” May 2025
“The clinicians are kind, caring and listen to what I say they really want to help I feel heard and taken care of” - July 2025
“Fast and delt with me amazing understood and listened to everything I had to say I felt listened and like after so long I’m finally get the help I needed thankyou” - July 2025
“Friendly! Explained everything I needed explaining so I felt informed in making the right decisions for myself” - September 2025
“I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you for listening to me, thank you for taking the time to assess me and thank you for helping me change my life for the positive, your support and understanding. Without the service I don’t know where I would have ended up. The life of someone with undiagnosed ADHD for me was lonely, frustrating life, filled with self-loathing because I didn’t understand why I could not just… now I know I can and I will. Please don’t underestimate the effect you have on people’s lives every day, you support them to get the help they need to understand themselves better and how to adapt to make life less challenging on a daily basis.” - October 2025
You said, We did….
| I would have preferred to see the same person for medication appointments | We redesigned clinic plans in every locality so that the same clinicians attend clinics on a 4-weekly cycle.
We strive to maintain consistency in medication titration appointments and ensure there are no interruptions or delays in treatment. In the event of planned or unplanned staff absences, we will offer appointments with an alternative clinician who has full access to the individual's notes and care plans. This means people will be reviewed and receive prescriptions at the right time and avoids a delay in the optimisation of their treatment. Additionally, this means we can flow people more efficiently through the titration pathway and reduces waiting times. People are able to agree their next mutually convenient medication appointment with their clinician. |
| I had long waits between appointments | Sometimes this cannot be avoided, however we made improvements to booking arrangements and we continue to monitor closely to reduce waiting. |
| My pharmacist could not provide the medication prescribed | Unfortunately, this is a national problem. Demand for certain types of ADHD medication has exceeded supply since 2023. We have supported people in taking medication breaks where appropriate or suggested safe alternatives |
| Suggestions of topics to include in social skills group following an Autism diagnosis. | Our multidisciplinary team members are going to review the suggestions and consider how these could be included in future social skills events. |
How can I complain about or compliment the service I received?
There are several ways you can provide feedback about your experience:
- Each appointment with the service automatically triggers a ‘Friends & Family Test’ survey to your mobile phone – you are encouraged to complete this.
- You may be asked to provide feedback via an electronic tablet (if available)
- You can also email the service via ADHDandAutismService@swyt.nhs.uk
- You can contact our customer services team on customerservices@swyt.nhs.uk or 0800 587 2108
How long will I need to wait for an assessment appointment?
In recent years, referrals into this ADHD service have increased significantly. The service expects to receive approx. 4300 referrals for assessment each year yet has capacity to assess approximately only 480 people, this has resulted in long waiting lists with increasingly long waiting times.
We understand and appreciate how frustrating it is to experience such long waits and we are working with our partners to find solutions to help address these.
We ask that, if possible, people refrain from contacting the service for updates on waiting times as answering frequent requests for updates reduces our ability to run the service effectively. It is not possible to accurately estimate how long a person may need to wait as this can depend on several factors, examples include:
- there may be people on the list who no longer require an assessment
- there may be additional investment to allow more people to be invited
- unexpected long term staff absence or difficulties recruiting suitably experienced people to posts.
We are able to advise you of the number of people currently waiting and the typical referral date for people currently being invited for assessment, this might help you to make decisions about your referral. Please note that the number of people waiting, and the waiting times differ by area as these are impacted upon by local investment and varying local referral rates.
| Number of adults waiting for assessment | Typical referral date of those currently being invited for assessment | |
| Barnsley | 1401 | August 2022 |
| Kirklees | 2246 | January 2023 |
| Wakefield | 2402 | July 2022 |
| Other (inc Calderdale) | 1106 | October 2022 |
If your referral date is in the month shown above, you can expect to be invited soon, however due to exceptionally high demand since 2022, if your referral date is three months after the date shown above it is likely your wait will exceed 12 months, or it could be much longer.
If you are on our waiting list, but no longer need an assessment here, please let us know by emailing ADHDandAutismService@swyt.nhs.uk. Please quote your full name, address and date of birth when contacting us by email. Thank you.
If I receive a diagnosis, how long will I need to wait for before I am able to start medication?
If you receive an ADHD diagnosis from this Service, you will be offered medication within weeks of your diagnosis if it is clinically appropriate to do so.
Please note: We do not routinely provide a medication service to people who have received a diagnosis from another provider, but we do consider referrals on a case-by-case basis.
Note: This information will be updated every 3 months
Contact details for the organisations listed are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
National Services
- Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/
National mental health and crisis listening help line.
Call for free at any time on 116 123
- SHOUT – https://giveusashout.org/
Text the word 'SHOUT' to 85258. A free, confidential, anonymous text support service for 24/7 mental health support. Website also provides online resources and coping strategies.
- MIND - www.mind.org.uk
National mental health charity with local services in Leeds, Barnsley and Bradford. Website provides lots of helpful information including ways to help yourself cope in a crisis, online peer support community “Side by Side”, and a guide to accessing support services.
- Richmond Fellowship - https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk/
UK Charity providing information on a range of national and local support services including community, housing, employment, crisis and domestic abuse support
- Rethink Mental Illness - https://www.rethink.org/
Offers help on a wide range of topics such as the Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits, and carers rights, as well as general information about living with mental illness, medication and care.
- SANE - www.sane.org.uk
National mental health charity offering an out-of-hours helpline (SANEline) for specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers.
West Yorkshire
- Creative Minds - www.creativemindsuk.com
Creative groups, projects and activities for mental health and wellbeing
- Andy’s Man Club - https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
A judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about mental health. Free weekly peer-to-peer support groups for men aged over 18. Groups held in Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Batley, Barnsley and more.
- MindWell West Yorkshire - www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk
Freephone 24/7 helpline – 0800 1830558
West Yorkshire helpline provides confidential support, advice and information for anyone who is concerned about their mental health or is worried about someone else. Website includes great A to Z list of further support services.
Wakefield
- Wakefield Recovery College - wakefieldrecoverycollege.nhs.uk
Learning courses and online resources for wellbeing and recovery
- Live Well Wakefield - https://www.livewellwakefield.nhs.uk/
Wellbeing resources, courses and workshops
- Turning Point Wakefield - https://talking.turning-point.co.uk/wakefield/
NHS Wakefield talking therapies
NHS individual psychological therapies for mental health, drug and alcohol issues and learning disability. Talking therapies, self-help, groups and workshops
- GASPED - www.gasped.co.uk
Giving Advice and Support for People in Emotional Distress
Face to face and telephone counselling, mental health, addiction and domestic abuse support, peer support groups and practical support with benefits, job applications, finding shelter and signposting to other services
- Well Women Centre Wakefield - org.uk/
Charity providing mental health, emotional and practical support in a women only space, 1:1 counselling, courses and groups.
- Wakefield Council - https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Housing/
Social care, housing, employment and financial support
- Social Care Direct – https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/
Contact Social Care Direct if you or someone you know appears to need adult social care services in Wakefield
- Wakefield First - https://wakefieldfirst.com/
Employment support and adult education classes
Kirklees
- Kirklees NHS Talking Therapies - https://kirkleesiapt.co.uk/
NHS individual talking therapies, online self-help, digital mental health support programme Silver Cloud, how to self-refer
- Kirklees Wellness Service – https://kirkleeswellnessservice.co.uk/
Mental health and wellbeing programmes and online resources
- Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College - nhs.uk
Learning courses and online resources for wellbeing and recovery
- Kirklees Council - https://www.kirklees.gov.uk
Information and advice on adult and children’s social care, needs assessments, community mental health, housing, financial and employment support
- HOOT - www.hootcreativearts.co.uk
A Kirklees based arts and mental health charity providing a range of services and groups including adult mental health services, wellbeing at work, creative self-care strategies and criminal justice system support
- Well-Bean Crisis Café – touchstonesupport.org.uk/wellbean-cafe
A safe space for Kirklees residents who are experiencing crisis. It offers a warm, person-centred approach to crisis support. Huddersfield - 07741 900395. Dewsbury - 07867 028755.
- Fusion Housing - https://www.fusionhousing.org.uk/
A range of housing support services in Kirklees including housing advice, managed tenancy, legal aid, food bank and employment support
- Community Links Engagement and Recovery Service (CLEAR) - https://www.commlinks.co.uk/
Group-based mental health and wellbeing service providing a range of social, self-help, leisure and skills-based activities in Huddersfield and Dewsbury
- Community Plus - kirkleescommunityplus.co.uk
Access support from a range of organisations to overcome challenges in your life. Groups, activities, social connections, volunteering and employment opportunities and more.
Calderdale
- Calderdale NHS Talking Therapies - https://calderdaleiapt.nhs.uk/
NHS individual talking therapies, self-help, digital mental health support programme “Silver Cloud”
- Healthy Minds Calderdale - healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
Information on local mental health services, group activities, SafeSpace scheme, Walks for Wellbeing
- Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College - nhs.uk
Learning courses and online resources for wellbeing and recovery
- VitaMinds Calderdale – www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk
VitaMinds is a free and confidential NHS service. They offer a range of short-term psychological therapies to adults, who live and are registered with a GP in Calderdale. Website provides self-help, info on support groups and how to self-refer.
- Calderdale Council - calderdale.gov.uk
Information and advice on adult and children’s social care, community mental health, housing, financial and employment support
- Staying Well Calderdale – www.stayingwellhub.com
Staying Well work with individuals and communities to help people feel less lonely and isolated. Support to discover new things in your local area and make that first step out of the door.
Barnsley
- Barnsley NHS Talking Therapies - https://www.barnsleyiapt.co.uk/
NHS individual talking therapies, counselling, self-help, digital mental health support programme Silver Cloud
- Live Well Barnsley - https://www.livewellbarnsley.co.uk/
Wellbeing resources, courses and workshops
- Barnsley Council - barnsley.gov.uk
Information and advice on adult and children’s social care, mental health, housing, financial and employment support
- Barnsley Recovery College - www.barnsleyrecoverycollege.nhs.uk
Learning courses and online resources for wellbeing and recovery
- Enterprising Barnsley - www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk
Employment skills training and support
- Good Work Barnsley - www.findgoodwork.co.uk
Good Work supports amazing people – including those living with a severe mental health condition – to find, stay and thrive in employment. Offers 1:1 employment support.
- HumanKind Barnsley Recovery Steps - https://humankindcharity.org.uk/
Provides free and confidential support to help you manage, reduce or stop your drug or alcohol use
- HumanKind Barnsley - humankindcharity.org.uk/service/umbrella/
Free and confidential service including mental health and wellbeing support and counselling