Woman's Life Changed After GPs in SA Trained to Diagnose ADHD

Topic: ADHD

Tayla Giles' life changed after getting an ADHD diagnosis from a trained GP in South Australia.

In short:

About 100 GPs in South Australia can now diagnose and treat ADHD in adults and children over 8.

Tayla Giles says the process was faster and cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist.

What's next?

SA's Royal Australian College of General Practitioners hopes 100 more GPs will be trained by 2026.

Tayla Giles booked an appointment with a GP after learning they could diagnose ADHD.

She was amazed and said it was something she could finally access.

She had her initial assessment in March and got an ADHD diagnosis a month later.

The process was smooth and easy, with a two-week wait and a thorough hour-long interview.

Tayla Giles had been on a waiting list for 8 months to see a psychiatrist, which would have cost $2,000.

Getting the diagnosis through a GP cost her about $600.

Tayla Giles says the process to get an ADHD assessment was smooth.

The total cost was $600 across three appointments.

Tayla Giles' life has changed for the better after getting her ADHD diagnosis.

100 GPs across South Australia became qualified to diagnose and treat ADHD in February.

Tayla Giles' psychologist sent her a list of 100 trained GPs, and her regular GP was on the list.

Tayla Giles had thought about getting an ADHD diagnosis for a long time but her psychologist couldn't do it.

Dr Sian Goodson says there are long wait lists for GPs qualified to diagnose ADHD.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says there's an overwhelming demand for GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD.

Some GPs are seeing patients they've known for years and confirming ADHD diagnoses.

GPs are getting long wait lists for patients wanting ADHD diagnostic services.

Limited services are available in regional areas.

ADHD diagnoses have surged across Australia over the past 8 years, but rates vary by location.

Experts say the prevalence of ADHD in Australian adults is between 2.5 and 3 per cent.

ADHD diagnoses in adults have increased across Australia since 2017.

In South Australia, all areas are below the national ADHD prevalence rate.

The highest ADHD diagnosis rates are in Gawler, Two Wells, and Mitcham.

Rates are lower in regional areas like the Outback North and East.

There are no GPs who can diagnose ADHD in adults on the Eyre Peninsula.

There are limited options for psychiatrists, with many only offering telehealth services.

Jasmine Calderwood lives in Port Lincoln and thinks she may have ADHD.

Jasmine Calderwood hopes for a local service to provide ADHD support.

Jasmine Calderwood got a referral to a telehealth service but hasn't started due to costs and prioritizing her daughter's health.

Having a local specialist or GP for ADHD support would be easier for Jasmine Calderwood.

Local services would make it easier for people to follow through with ADHD diagnosis and treatment.

Of the 100 trained GPs, about 40 per cent are based in regional areas of SA.

The RACGP tried to pick GPs from across the state and regions for the training program.

The RACGP hopes to train another 100 GPs in ADHD treatment and diagnosis by the end of the year.

The RACGP will prioritize training GPs in areas with limited services, like regional and rural areas.

SA's new Health Minister Blair Boyer understands the high demand for ADHD services.

The government is committed to training more GPs in ADHD diagnosis and treatment.

The government wants to encourage GPs to upskill themselves to offer more diagnoses and treatments in rural areas.

SA Health chief medical officer Michael Cusack says trained GPs will help South Australians get faster diagnoses and access to care.