The Tasmanian Government's election commitment for a new specialist service for children and young people with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will be expanded to address growing demand in the Tasmanian community and help families to access support sooner.
Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma, said the new specialist service, which opened in Southern Tasmania in April, is expanding statewide with the recruitment of additional GPs and paediatricians, meaning the service can see more children.
"We know there is nothing more important to Tasmanian families than ensuring children and young people have the support they need to meet their potential," Minister Petrusma said.
"Demand for specialist ADHD assessment has increased significantly both in Tasmania and across the country, which is why we have taken action, boosting our investment to $3 million over three years to deliver the new dedicated service.
"Eligible children and young people with suspected ADHD are being drawn from the paediatric waitlist for assessments and treatment, with planning underway to expand the model statewide.
"The expanded service will address the paediatric waitlist, enhance care and better meet the needs of Tasmanian children and their families.
"The service was developed jointly by paediatric and child and youth mental health specialists, with clinics delivered by a multidisciplinary team including paediatricians, psychiatrists, clinical nurse consultants and allied health professionals.
"This delivers on our goal of giving every Tasmanian child the best possible start in life, which is an important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future."
As part of the program, clinicians will also provide GPs in the community with support and education to take on shared care of these patients, prescribe medication, and provide ongoing follow up care and coordination.
Importantly, the Department of Health is also about to commence further recruitment of additional paediatric specialists, including in Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Intensive Care to help bolster paediatric services across Tasmania more broadly and address other speciality areas of need.
