WA GPs to diagnose ADHD under Labor promise

RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Ramya Raman welcomed the proposal.

“This proposal is the culmination of extensive discussions and work by GPs and the WA Government, but more importantly, calls from our patients for support to access potentially life-changing treatment,” she said.

“Patients need ongoing support for complex conditions like ADHD. If implemented well, this initiative will be a big step forward for Western Australians.

“ADHD is estimated to cost Australians $20 billion every year. That includes both direct health costs and more abstract factors like its impacts on productivity, but we can’t lose sight of the human side.

“It’s stressful to manage a complex condition and it is important for patients to have all the support around them.”

Capping off a week of health-related announcements Sanderson also announced a $48.5 million suite of mental health promises on Friday including a $5 million promise to build a new eating disorder centre.

Labor has also followed the Liberals’ pledge earlier this month to expand access to Ngala’s programs for struggling parents of newborns with $39.5 million to fund free public treatment in Ngala’s residential parenting service.

Currently, Ngala can only provide the important service to people with private health insurance or those referred by the Department of Communities.