Twins Max and Leo Mitchell spent 15 months on a waitlist for a critical behavioural assessment, their parents gave up waiting

Struggling parents are waiting up to three years for critical assessments of their kids as the state’s health crisis engulfs our children and wait lists soar.

L-R Emily (7), Ellen, Leo (5), Max (5) and Charles Mitchell. Max, one of Ellen's children has had to wait over a year for an assessment at the Women's and Children's Hospital. Picture: Tim Joy

South Australian children are the latest victims of the state’s buckling health system as wait times for critical assessments across the state blow out to nearly three years, leaving vulnerable children at risk of developmental delays.

Documents obtained by The Advertiser under Freedom of Information reveal a catastrophic failure by SA Health and successive health ministers, stretching back years, to meet the expected increase in demand for assessments, which could diagnose conditions such as ADHD and autism.

A report by the Women’s and Children’s Child Development Unit (CDU) shows a child referred to the department for a developmental assessment in 2023, is expected to be on the waitlist for over two-and-a-half years.

Leo, Max, Ellen, Charles and Emily Mitchell. Max, has had to wait nearly 15 months for an assessment at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Child Development Unit. Picture: Tim Joy

Charles and Ellen Mitchell are one of the thousands of parents across the state who have sat waiting, until that was no longer an option.

Their experience has left Ms Mitchell critical of how effective the state’s CDUs are in providing children with the access and support they need.

“I think people don’t see them as a viable option anymore,” the 33-year-old said.

“It’s not a useful service anymore.”

The Mitchells have three children, seven-year-old Emily and five-year-old twins Max and Leo.

Each have been diagnosed with both autism and ADHD.

Born with a heart condition and requiring surgery, Max was a regular visitor to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton blamed the Marshall Liberal Government for the situation, saying there had not been a funding increase for CDUs since 2010. Picture: Brenton Edwards

It was during this time he was diagnosed with ADHD and placed on the CDU waitlist for further assessments.

Max was left waiting for nearly 15 months without any indication of when he might be assessed.

“You don’t get any kind of indication from the CDU about where you might be on the list,” Ms Mitchell said.

“They will send you an acknowledgment letter … but I think there’s conflicting information about how long you’re going to be on it.

The issue came to a head in October 2023 when both Max and Leo were terminated from childcare due to the behaviour.

“[The daycare centre] just couldn’t manage their behaviour, and they said that they didn’t have the staff who were skilled or experienced enough to support them,” Ms Mitchell said.

Without childcare and knowing the transition to school would be tricky for the twins, Ms Mitchell resigned from her full time job in December.

But the situation also meant the Mitchells could no longer wait for an assessment.

“That’s where the funding comes in for the school,” Ms Mitchell said.

“It doesn’t matter that I have years worth of reports saying all of Max and Leo’s difficulties and the supports they need, unless you have that diagnosis, you’re limited in what resources are available.”

Like many South Australians, Ms Mitchell decided to leave the public system, paying $1800 per child to see a private pediatrician.

Max, one of Ellen's children has had to wait over a year for an assessment at the Women's and Children's Hospital. Picture: Tim Joy

The twins were seen in six weeks.

But even with the approximate $400 Medicare rebate, it was a costly exercise – one which Ms Mitchell recognises is not financially viable for everyone.

“I know that there’s a lot of people that don’t have that kind of access to money,” she said.

“And I think that there’s a lot of kids who are missing out and not getting the support they need because their parents can’t afford to have these assessments done.”

Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton said the government had recruited additional staff resulting in increased appointments to improve access for children with complex needs to access the specialist care offered within the public system.

“We are trialling an autism assessment in schools program that will see up to 100 students, including children on the CDU waitlist access an assessment at no cost over the next two years,” Mr Picton said.

“This will not only get kids off the CDU waitlist but will support some of our most vulnerable kids in SA.”