Psychiatrist wait times blow out for ADHD diagnosis across Australia

Australians are waiting several months to see psychiatrists for an initial ADHD assessment, with some clinics unable to take on new patients. See the wait times at each clinic.

People are being forced to wait more than six months to get an ADHD diagnosis, with at least 20 psychiatrists unable to take on new patients because the demand is so high.

An investigation by News Corp Australia can reveal the large wait times at almost 90 psychiatry clinics across Australia which specialise in ADHD.

It comes as PBS data has shown the number of Australians on ADHD medication spiked almost 300 per cent in a decade, growing to 470,000 people in 2022-23.

The increase was even bigger in adults, rising 450 per cent.

At one clinic in Brendale, north of Brisbane in Queensland, adult psychiatrist Dr Howard Granger was not accepting new referrals until September due to being inundated.

Concerningly, eight other child and adult psychiatrists at the same clinic had also closed their books in January until further notice.

In Victoria and NSW, most patients were facing wait times of at least three to six months for their initial appointment.

One psychiatrist, Dr Stella Kwong, who is based in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, was also not taking on new patients for eight months.

In NSW, four clinics in North Sydney, Roseville, Wentworthville and Hurstville were too inundated to take anyone else.

In Western Australia, at least six psychiatrists were listed as being unable to take on new referrals in January.

Last week, Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced that if re-elected a Labor government would amend regulations to enable GPs to both diagnose and prescribe treatment for ADHD in adults and children over 10.

Meanwhile, in Queensland and South Australia the average wait times were at least three months, with several clinics closing their books until further notice.

Most of the psychiatrists contacted by News Corp treat adults, with a small number of clinics also seeing children.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said the resignation of 200 senior NSW psychiatrists in the public health system last month would only further add strain to ADHD diagnosis wait times.

It is calling for GPs that specialise in ADHD to assist with the diagnosis and management of the condition in adults to help address the crisis.

RACGP Specific Interest Child and Young Person’s Health group chair Dr Tim Jones said in Queensland GPs were able to diagnose children, which helped the situation.

“In terms of achieving diagnostic support and appropriateness of prescribing and other supports, that’s certainly one layer we’d like to see more embrace of GPs particularly in our rural areas where access to specialists is non-existent,” he said.

Delmont Private Hospital in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris is not taking new patients.

“Queensland has long allowed GPs in certain circumstances to initiate treatment for ADHD in children and what we did not see when that happened was an increase in diagnosis.”

Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) president Professor David Coghill said the “enormous” wait lists for adults and children were putting people with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD at severe risk.

“Kids in this position will usually be doing more poorly educationally and socially,” Prof Coghill said.

“It may then lead to them being in trouble with the law later on in life and having issues with substances and alcohol.

“It can also lead to higher rates of suicide and self-harm, all of these things can be improved by treatment.”

Prof Coghill said the risk of suicide and other serious mental health issues was even greater among adults.

He said there was no “quick fix”.

“There are good practitioners out there doing it right, but the problem is you can’t churn through so many people and make sure you’re getting the treatment right.”

People are being forced to wait more than six months to get an ADHD diagnosis, with at least 20 psychiatrists unable to take on new patients because the demand is so high.

Dr Jones said he had concerns over some health professionals including psychologists offering half-hour online ADHD assessments for thousands of dollars.

“I have not infrequently heard of people paying four-figure amounts to telehealth services and receiving a very low quality assessment that they didn’t feel gave them any additional information about how to support or move forward,” Dr Jones said.

“The system is incredibly overwhelmed for children and adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis.”

Dr Jones said wait times for children and adults had blown out, particularly in rural areas.

“In Tasmania, we have a public system that still faces a wait time between two to three years for children,” he said.

“Colleagues in other states have noted the challenge of access being a universal problem in Australia and the more rural you are the greater the challenge.”

He said several adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis were being neglected by the system.

Originally published as Psychiatrist wait times blow out for ADHD diagnosis across Australia