FOI 2026/1551

1. Total spending on ADHD assessment and treatment services for financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25

2. Total spending on autism assessment services for financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25

3. Of the spending in questions 1 and 2, the amount paid to private/independent sector providers

4. Current number of people on waiting lists for ADHD assessment (as of most recent available data)

5. Current number of people on waiting lists for autism assessment (as of most recent available data)

6. Any age-based restrictions currently applied to Right to Choose referrals for ADHD or autism assessments

7. Current Right to Choose referral status (accepting/paused/restricted)

Please note the finance figures provided are for ADHD and Autism, as the ICB does not separate identify all ADHD costs from those related to Autism. Therefore, the responses for questions 1 and 2 are combined, and consider both ADHD and Autism costs.

In addition, NHS GM procures some ADHD and Autism services from NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts. The cost of these services are included in block contracts with the relevant NHS Trust or Foundation Trust and cannot be separately identified. This spend is therefore excluded from the data below.

1. See below table (including data for question 2)

3. All spend included in the table above is to independent providers.

4. NHS GM does not hold this information. This information would need to be accessed directly from the NHS Provider Trusts and Right to Choose providers.

To assist you, please find below links to their websites with information about how to make a Freedom of Information request.

5. See answer to Q4.

6. NHS Greater Manchester does not apply any age-based restrictions to Right to Choose referrals for ADHD or autism assessments. NICE guidance supports assessment across the lifespan, with ADHD covered for children, young people and adults (NG87), and autism covered in separate guidelines for children and young people (CG128, up to 19 years) and adults (CG142, 18+), with no upper age limit specified. However, individual Right to Choose providers may apply their own age criteria in line with NICE guidance and their commissioned service specifications.

7. Right to Choose providers are commissioned against indicative activity plans rather than operating an open or closed referral status. As a result, some providers have reached their planned annual activity levels and are not undertaking new routine assessments within the current financial year. However, activity continues, including pathway management and arrangements to ensure individuals with urgent assessment needs can still be seen in line with clinical prioritisation.