In a booming taxpayer-funded market for ADHD assessment and treatment, it has not been unusual for companies to double revenues year on year. Based in London, Care ADHD was set up two years ago by two former NHS executives. Its revenues soared from £1.9mn in its first year to £37.1mn the next, mostly funded by the NHS. It is currently up for sale and has a “highly attractive” ebitda margin of 42 per cent this year.
The growth of private providers comes as a rising number of Britons take advantage of their right to have the health service pay for private ADHD evaluations. About 2.5mn people in England have ADHD, according to NHS England, but only a third have a diagnosis. The growing private market has led to concerns about the quality of assessment, with claims that “tick-box” assessments are wrongly telling people they have ADHD.
A review, led by clinical psychologist Peter Fonagy, is expected to recommend a clampdown on the NHS-funded private market. It will address concerns that ordinary character traits and emotions are being “over-medicalised”. Barny Guthrie, chief executive of Clinical Partners, said: “The reason why there has been such a big ramp-up in the private sector is that the NHS was unable to meet the demand.” His own company’s revenues doubled to £55.3mn.
Psychiatry-UK, the largest provider of NHS services, saw revenues of £159.8mn in the 18 months to August 2025. Its owner, private equity firm Queen’s Park Equity, is offering it for sale. One industry figure said that “very low barriers to entry” had led to some poor-quality provision among smaller clinics.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing