PEOPLE with ADHD and autism are “falling through the gaps” as services face significant pressure, an ombudsman has warned.

A review by the parliamentary and health service ombudsman found long waiting times, variations in access and fragmented care for both children and adults, with complaints rising from 410 in 2021-22 to 1,257 in 2025-26.

The review analysed 3,000 complaints over six years, identifying issues including long assessment waits, inconsistent recognition of diagnoses and poor communication between services.

Ombudsman Paula Sussex said: “ADHD and autism services are under significant pressure, with demand outstripping capacity. Right now, the system is too complex and inconsistent, leaving too many patients falling through the gaps.

“We have seen clear evidence that this has created a postcode lottery, with too many people’s access to care depending on where they live.”

ADHD UK chief executive Henry Shelford said: “Behind every one of these 3,000 complaints is a person whose life is on hold. ADHD is not a trivial condition. Unsupported, it often costs people their education, their jobs, their health and sometimes their lives.”

The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment.