Urgent Wait List Initiative for Adult ADHD Assessments

NHS Essex ICB is seeking providers to urgently transfer adult patients from its waiting list to accredited independent and NHS providers for ADHD assessments and treatment. This non-recurrent funding initiative addresses significant waiting times (52+ weeks) by moving the longest-waiting patients to specialist providers with capacity to deliver rapid assessments on a temporary basis. The contract period is short-term (23 March 2026 to 30 June 2026, approximately 2 months and 16 days) with a total budget of £465,030 to transfer approximately 324 patients. This urgent award is being made under exceptional circumstances due to time-limited funding availability and the need to rapidly mobilise services to reduce patient harm from extended wait times. Both independent and NHS providers on the CYP and Adult frameworks are invited to participate. Interested providers should demonstrate their capacity to accept patient transfers, provide accredited ADHD assessment services, and mobilise resources quickly to meet this urgent need.