Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnosis
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will launch an independent review into the growing demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services in England.
Streeting has previously claimed mental health issues are “over-diagnosed”. The government argued that the increasing pressure on the system caused people in need of urgent assistance to wait for a long time.
He said: “We absolutely need to look at this from a clinical perspective to get an evidence-based understanding… That’s the only way we can ensure everyone has access to the right diagnosis and effective support in a timely manner.”
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the review was launched alongside £688m of extra funding, but it also comes as ministers try to tackle a growing welfare bill.
Earlier this year, the government had to come down Planned cuts to disability benefits, including for those with mental health problems, have been agreed after facing huge backlash from more than 100 Labor supporters.
But on Monday, the prime minister made a promise. renewed pressure to reform the welfare system, this is said to “condemn people to poverty” and “write young people off as too ill to work.”
The findings of the new review, led by clinical psychologist Prof Peter Fonagy, will be published in summer 2026.
Prof Fonagy said the aim was to “rigorously test assumptions and listen closely to those most affected, ensuring that our recommendations are both honest and genuinely useful”.
As of March this year, nearly four million adults of working age in England and Wales claimed disability or incapacity benefit; this rate was almost three million in 2019. according to research From the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
The DHSC said increasing pressure on the NHS “has meant that, for too long, people with acute needs have faced long waits, had to deal with overstretched services, experienced inequalities in care and felt abandoned when support was needed most.”
Mental health charity Mind welcomed the government’s announcement and signaled their willingness to contribute to the review.
Chief executive Dr Sarah Hughes said: “This is a huge opportunity to really understand what is driving rising levels of mental illness, particularly among our young people.”
President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr. Lade Smith called for the review to “rigorously identify gaps in care”, taking into account the “many complex reasons” for which people seek help.
The National Autistic Society said: “We need urgent action because while we are currently seeing the number of people seeking an assessment plateauing, the average waiting time is rising rapidly.”
