MPs question whether health civil servant urged to play role in ADHD clinics clampdown

MPs question Jones’s involvement

The MPs say Jones should take no part in the government’s response to concerns about private neurodiversity services. As permanent secretary, she oversees implementation of health policy decisions and would normally advise ministers on regulation of private ADHD and autism providers.

The government accepted a review by Prof Peter Fonagy last week. It questioned the consistency and quality of private assessments and highlighted financial incentives to diagnose and treat people. Health secretary Yvette Cooper has promised tougher regulation.

Labour MP Stella Creasy said the issue was too sensitive to allow conflicts of interest. She called on Jones to recuse herself from this policy area, saying there should be no suggestion that past or current links influenced the government’s response.

Jones’s ties to ADHD360

Jones became permanent secretary on 22 April 2025. On 16 May, while she remained chair, director and shareholder of private care provider Keys Group, the company bought ADHD360, a major provider of NHS-funded neurodiversity assessments.

She sold her Keys Group shares and resigned from her roles there and at G Square Capital before joining the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 June. NHS spending on ADHD360 has topped £26m since 2020, according to figures from the Tussell public expenditure database.

The article also reports that ADHD360 brought Keys Group £26m from NHS services in England over six years. Jones did not answer questions.

Department rejects conflict claim

A department spokesperson said there was no conflict of interest. The spokesperson said Jones had declared all relevant interests and resigned from private-sector posts before becoming permanent secretary.

Jones has separately recused herself from a decision about extending Palantir’s £330m, seven-year NHS contract. Her past work for lobbyists Carnall Farrar, which advised Palantir on the contract, prompted that step.

In June, Jones apologised after the Civil Service Commission reprimanded her for breaking lobbying rules. She had not sought advance approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments before working for four healthcare companies.

Career in public and private health

Jones, 55, led West Hertfordshire NHS trust from 2013 to 2015 and later worked at NHS England. She then moved into private healthcare, before Boris Johnson gave her a senior Downing Street role in 2021.