00:00Perth mum Sarah Jackson thinks her five-year-old daughter Ayla has ADHD, like her older sister.
00:08But staying in the public system could see her wait up to four years for a diagnosis.
00:13She has got so much potential and it worries me that the school system is not going to be able to support her.
00:21It just puts her in limbo land because by the time she gets to the point of actually having the choice of a GP
00:29or the paediatrician, it's too late.
00:32She won't be able to access the WA government's program training GPs to diagnose ADHD
00:38because it's only for those aged 10 and above.
00:41The Royal Australian College of GPs, which will train the specialist doctors,
00:45warns caution is needed when diagnosing younger children.
00:48There are difficulties in that cohort and at this stage we feel it's best with this training that we focus on the 10 and up.
00:58But each jurisdiction is different.
01:01In Queensland, GPs are allowed to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication for children as young as four.
01:07New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT will also train doctors to diagnose and treat the condition in children,
01:13but haven't specified what age.
01:15While in Tasmania, more GPs and paediatricians are being recruited to deal with the long wait lists.
01:20There are calls for a nationwide standard.
01:23Having a nationally consistent approach really is to ensure that care is consistent, that it's evidence-based and that it's equitable.
01:31We want to ensure that the care and supports that children and young people receive are standardised and of high quality.
01:39The Royal Australian College of GPs agrees and wants nationally consistent ADHD legislation.
01:46The Royal Australian College of GPs, the Royal Australian College of GPs and paediatricians 4.
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