Urgent Community ADHD and Autism Assessment Service Expansion

NHS Essex ICB is seeking to urgently expand ADHD and autism assessment capacity for children and adults facing lengthy waiting times. This time-limited contract (23 March to 30 June 2026) offers non-recurrent funding of £132,274 to transfer approximately 62 patients from overstretched NHS services to accredited independent and NHS providers. The initiative addresses critical gaps in community paediatric neurology assessments and adult mental health diagnostic services where patients currently wait over 52 weeks for care. Providers should be registered on the CYP (Children and Young People) and Adult mental health frameworks and capable of rapidly mobilizing additional assessment capacity. This urgent award bypasses standard procurement timelines due to unforeseen circumstances and immediate patient safety risks. Suitable providers can expect increased referral volumes and should be prepared to support service transitions during the 2026/27 financial year.