Thousands of adults in Leeds are facing years-long waits for an NHS ADHD assessment, with a new West Yorkshire service launching to offer appointments within weeks.
The current waiting list for adult ADHD assessments in Leeds stands at around 4,500 people. It is currently closed to new referrals and carries an estimated waiting time of up to ten years.
For many people, that is not simply a statistic. It can mean years of difficulty at work, in relationships and in everyday life without a diagnosis, support or a clear route forward.
Sort Health, which opened for bookings this month, is a new ADHD assessment service based in West Yorkshire. It aims to provide appointments within weeks rather than years.
Unlike many commercial providers operating in the growing ADHD assessment market, Sort Health says it has not been created to make a profit.
Where the Money Goes
Sort Health is part of Bevan Community Benefit Society, an established not-for-profit healthcare organisation that has delivered NHS services in West Yorkshire since 2011.
As a Community Benefit Society, Sort Health has no shareholders. Any surplus is reinvested into Bevan’s inclusion health work with communities in need across West Yorkshire.
“We’re not here to replace the NHS. We’re here because the NHS is overwhelmed and people simply cannot wait,” said Mathew Sidebottom, Sort Health’s Director.
“Every assessment we deliver helps reduce the pressure on a system that is struggling to cope.”
Not Just a Diagnosis
One of the most common criticisms of private ADHD assessment services is that people may receive a diagnosis, or be told they do not have ADHD, with little follow-up support afterwards.
Sort Health says it has been designed with that concern in mind.
A dedicated care navigator supports people throughout the process, from the first enquiry and pre-assessment paperwork through to a personal follow-up call after diagnosis.
The service recognises that receiving a significant clinical finding without support can raise as many questions as it answers.
Assessments are carried out by experienced healthcare professionals who have delivered ADHD assessments within the NHS. Face-to-face appointments are available in Bradford, while online assessments are open to adults across the UK.
Payment plans are also available to help spread the cost.
Sort Health is part of Bevan Community Benefit Society, which holds two CQC Outstanding ratings and runs two GP practices alongside its wider NHS and inclusion health work.
A Local Problem, a Local Response
The scale of unmet need in Leeds reflects a wider national challenge. ADHD diagnosis rates have increased sharply over the past decade, while NHS capacity has struggled to keep pace.
In December 2025, the government launched an independent review into ADHD and mental health services, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, with findings expected this summer.
Sort Health says it is not claiming to be a substitute for a properly funded NHS. Its founders are clear that adequate public provision remains the only real long-term answer.
However, for thousands of Leeds adults facing a long wait for assessment, the service offers a practical alternative: an appointment within weeks, delivered by a not-for-profit provider that reinvests surplus money back into local community health work.
Adults across the UK can find out more and book through Sort Health.
