19 hours ago
GPs will be able to diagnose and treat ADHD under Tasmanian Liberals' election pledge
Tasmanian Liberals have pledged to make it easier for Tasmanians to access attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and treatment by allowing GPs to undertake assessments.
On Saturday morning, Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that if re-elected, the Liberals would expand Tasmanian GPs' scope of practice to enable them to diagnose, treat, and manage ADHD for both children and adults.
Appearing alongside Mr Rockliff, Liberal Lyons candidate Steph Cameron, whose six-year-old son Bruce has ADHD, became emotional when discussing the challenges it had presented. Ms Cameron also has ADHD.
"I look at kids who have ADHD … and often they're told that they're the naughty kids," she said.
Currently, in Tasmania, it can be time-consuming and expensive to seek a diagnosis and treatment for ADHD. The wait for paediatric assessments can be 18 months or more.
Last year, Tasmanian GP Kate Bendall told the ABC it could involve multiple medical practitioners and cost more than $800 to receive a diagnosis.
When the state parliament last year held an inquiry into how ADHD is assessed and treated in Tasmania, it received 60 submissions, many of which raised the lack of available medical professionals.
Mr Rockliff said the pledge would allow Tasmanian GPs to provide diagnosis and treatment options rather than referring adult and child patients to specialists.
"We need to ensure we move with that need and ensure we have more flexibility and opportunity."
He said the announcement would provide better, cheaper, and faster access for the families seeking help.
The announcement comes just one day after the South Australian Labor government made a similar pledge.
It also reflects changes that have been made in New South Wales and Queensland in recent years.
The Tasmanian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Toby Gardner, said the peak body welcomed the announcement.
"This is something we've been advocating for for a long time nationally," he said.
Dr Gardner said the long wait times for children to be diagnosed could dramatically affect their educational outcomes.
He said if adults were unable to access care and treatment, it could cost the national economy in lost productivity in the workplace.
Ms Cameron, who has ADHD, said if she had been able to walk into a GP clinic and get the care her son needed, it would have been "life-changing".
"To get the support [parents] need when they ask for it, without question or putting any doubt in their minds … it's so important," she said.
Labor leader Dean Winter on Saturday also said his party supported the policy.
Greens candidate for Bass, Cecily Rosol, said she was on the parliamentary inquiry into ADHD and supported the policy.
"Having GPs being able to make an ADHD diagnosis is a sensible move that will improve diagnosis, reduce waiting times and ensure people are able to get the treatment and support they need," Ms Rosol said.
Mr Rockliff said if his government was re-elected, it would also amend legislation to allow interstate prescriptions for ADHD medication to be dispensed in Tasmania.
