NBMLHD research informs national discussion on ADHD services
Research led by clinicians from Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, in collaboration with the University of Sydney and the University of Notre Dame Australia, is contributing to the national conversation on improving services for people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The study, recently published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, analysed hundreds of written submissions from individuals and families to the 2023 Australian Senate Inquiry into ADHD. The aim was to better understand the challenges people face and the changes they believe are needed.
Senior author Dr Alison Poulton, Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney Nepean Clinical School and Paediatrician at Nepean Hospital, says the research highlights significant barriers to timely diagnosis and care.
“Many individuals and families described long wait times, high out-of-pocket costs and difficulty accessing specialised services,” says Dr Poulton.
“By examining these submissions systematically, we were able to identify the most common concerns and priorities for reform.”
The study found that long wait times and high service costs were each reported in 46 per cent of submissions. A lack of specialised ADHD care was cited by 39 per cent of respondents, while 71 per cent called for more affordable and accessible services.
Another senior co-author, Clinical Associate Professor Dr Habib Bhurawala, Head of Paediatrics at Nepean Hospital, says the findings reinforce the importance of nationally consistent approaches to ADHD care.
“The voices of people living with ADHD are clear: access, affordability, and continuity of care must improve,” says A/Prof Bhurawala.
“As clinicians we see the impact that delays in diagnosis and fragmented services can have on education, employment and family wellbeing. Research like this allows us to contribute meaningful evidence to national policy discussions.”
The project reflects NBMLHD’s ongoing commitment to research that supports improvements not only within the district, but across Australia.
“Local research can play an important role in shaping broader reform,” Dr Poulton says.
“Our goal is to ensure that services are responsive to community needs and aligned with best practice.”
Full findings from the study are available online in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.