News
New IHPN report: Building Better Neurodevelopmental Services
20/07/2026
With independent providers now delivering over 50% of NHS-funded ADHD assessments and 1 in 3 of all NHS Autism assessments, IHPN are pleased to share with you our new report – “Building Better Neurodevelopmental Services”.
This report looks at the role independent providers currently play in delivery of NHS-funded ADHD and Autism services; as well as the key challenges faced by patients in accessing high quality services. To address some of these issues and to provide a blueprint for reform, the report sets out a number of key recommendations, including:
- The first-of-its-kind Modern Neurodevelopmental Service Framework to provide patients with clear waiting times targets; to define clinical approaches to referral, acceptance and triage; greater clarity over the competencies and training required for professionals; and the introduction of consistent rules for the acceptability of remote and hybrid assessments.
- The development of national service specifications for ADHD and Autism to improve consistency and – based on these – national tariff pricing to ensure there’s consistency and transparency in how all providers are paid (including statutory providers currently delivering services predominantly via block contracts).
- National Agreements for Shared Care and Electronic Prescribing to help to reduce current areas of friction for patients and improve the coordination and efficiency of care.
- Further work to enhance data collection and reporting to improve understanding of outcomes, including the development of a national minimum dataset which collects evidence relating to a select range of outcomes, including participation in employment, training and education.
- The CQC to consult on the current scope of regulation – in light of the growing role of virtual pathways, along with the increasingly sophisticated range of digital tools to inform screening and assessment – to explore how pathways can become subject to ‘end to end’ oversight.