This ADHD Awareness Month; we are highlighting work we are leading to strengthen the adult ADHD pathway by supporting the identification, development, and adoption of digital technologies across the region. 

The challenge 

Referrals for adult ADHD assessment have risen sharply in recent years. Many patients are experiencing long waits for assessment and limited follow-up support after diagnosis. Variation between services also creates inequalities in access and outcomes. 

Eddie Alder, Programme Delivery Director at HIEM, said: 

“The pressure on ADHD services is significant. Digital technologies have the potential to streamline assessment, improve consistency of care, and provide practical self-management support. Our aim is to work with partners to identify solutions that address these challenges and enable services to deliver the best outcomes for patients.” 

Our approach 

HIEM is working with NHS partners, innovators, and people with lived experience to identify digital solutions that can support service delivery and improve the experience and outcomes for people with ADHD. 

This includes: 

• Digital for Neurodiversity Hubs – engaging service users, clinicians, and commissioners to capture insights, identify unmet need, and highlight opportunities for digital innovation. 

• Innovation support – working with developers to strengthen evidence, ensure products are clinically relevant, and support use of digital technology. 

• Knowledge sharing – outputs from the hubs will inform future research and signal demand to innovators. Findings will be shared via a webinar in January and published on our website. 

Our work will feed into a Health Innovation Network cluster programme, across five regional HINs, focussing on implementing and testing a new service model developed by Northwest Cost HIN. 

Building on proven innovation 

The East Midlands has a strong record in supporting digital tools for ADHD services. HIEM previously worked with Qbtech to evaluate and spread QbTest, an objective assessment tool to aid ADHD diagnosis in children and young people. 

• In 2017–18, HIEM led a demonstrator project to see how QbTest worked in a real-world setting. 

• Following positive evaluation, the tool was scaled nationally across the Health Innovation Network. 

• By March 2025, 84 NHS Trusts (around 80% of eligible Trusts in England) had adopted QbTest. 

Get involved 

We are keen to engage with: 

• NHS colleagues and commissioners who want to shape how digital tools are used in ADHD services, 

• innovators developing digital technologies with potential to support assessment or ongoing management, and 

• people with lived experience who want to share insights. 

If you would like to know more, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.