Please note:  Due to long waiting times and high demand, we are not able to accept requests to expedite or prioritise any assessments. All referrals will be processed in the order in which they arrived at NeSS. This includes referrals for Trust staff.

NeSS Statement re Long Waiting Times 

We would like to be totally transparent and acknowledge the extended waiting time for diagnostic assessments with the Neurodevelopmental Specialist Service. The lengthy waiting times for ADHD and Autism assessments is a national concern, with some areas seeing waiting times of over 10 years. Locally, our waiting times have increased due to a combination of factors including a large increase in referrals which has an impact on staff capacity.

We are aware that waiting 4+ years for a diagnostic assessment can be extremely difficult and that this can have an impact on your wellbeing while you wait. To help during this time, we would encourage you to utilise the waiting well resources we have available (insert link). For mental health support, please speak to your GP in the first instance.

We regret that our capacity to see patients for assessment does not match the demand of the referrals we receive. We are working with the Trust and commissioners to identify and address areas where efficiency can be improved, and it is hoped that over time these ongoing conversations will help reduce waiting times.

NeSS is run by a small team of dedicated and passionate professionals who are invested in this specialty, and we are doing everything we can to improve the situation. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

View our Frequently Asked Questions around waiting times.

Updated: 30 June 2026

Please note we receive a very high number of referrals (approx. 350 per month)

We are currently seeing people referred to us in:

  • December 2021 for ADHD assessment 
  • July 2021 for ASD assessment 
  • February 2025 for ADHD medication

Updated: 8 September 2026

Referrals into our service

GPs and any health professional from within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust can refer to our service.

We are unable to accept self referrals, referrals from third sector organisations or referrals for residents outside of Nottinghamshire.

Those who may be eligible to use our service include:

  • Adults aged 17.5 years of above with, or suspected of having, autism and/or ADHD and associated impairment
  • Adults aged 17.5 years or above with an ADHD diagnosis who require ADHD medication treatment initiation or review
  • Living within Nottingham City or Nottinghamshire County
  • Do not have an intellectual disability (these referrals should be made to the Intellectual Disability SPA)
  • Do not have an additional mental illness (these referrals should be made to the Locality Mental Health Team)

  1. Neurodevelopmental Referral Pathway for Adults

  2. Right to choose - Adults seeking assessment for ADHD and / or Autism

Assessment Standards

NeSS follows assessment standards as outline below for autism and ADHD assessment.  These are based on nationally agreed standards (such as the NICE guidelines for ADHD and autism assessments and the UKAAN adult ADHD assessment quality assurance standards).

We follow these standards in our own assessments processes and when reviewing referrals into the service for post diagnostic support or ADHD medication.

If you are planning to access a Right to Choose or private diagnostic assessment for autism or ADHD, please ensure that the provider is able to follow these standards or it may not be possible for NeSS to accept future referrals for medication or support.

Service leaflets

​