NHS is believed to be paying for thousands of ADHD patients to be treated at private clinics to help meet the unprecedented demand for assessments. Clinics claim they are receiving referrals from the health service to clear waiting lists which are up five-fold since before the pandemic. It comes during a 50 per cent rise in referrals for autism in the past year and a 51 per cent increase in the number of people prescribed ADHD medication since 2019-20.