Dear Editor,
I want to sincerely apologise to the readers of Medical Forum – especially ADHD specialists – for comments I made on the ABC radio (7/11/23), regarding the training of paediatricians and psychiatrists in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.
I stated that it was only a couple of days, which was factually incorrect. Many paediatricians have 6-12 months of intensive training and many more months and years of on-the-job training and experience. I’m sorry for my error and for causing offence.
I have great respect and admiration for the work ADHD specialists do, especially as I have two children with ADHD myself, and with many patients seeking ADHD care and having difficulty.
I confess to being reactive and overly defensive in regard to the charge that GPs are unable to be trained to play a larger role in ADHD diagnosis and treatment. With some GP colleagues and the support of several organisations, we have for many months been exploring ways to improve the crisis in access to ADHD diagnosis and treatment for children and adults.
We have explored a bigger role for GPs – and this was one of the main recommendations of the recently released Senate inquiry report into ADHD.
I knew, before my remark, that many paediatricians and psychiatrists are highly trained in ADHD care. The point I wanted to make – and obviously didn’t – was that a lot of doctors, including GPs, start with some (relatively small) training in certain areas, and get a lot more on the job, with colleagues and mentors. With training, support and guidelines, the outcomes are OK, and often excellent.
I hope that we can all continue to work toward fewer barriers to good ADHD diagnosis and treatment and hope my apology and clarification will be accepted.
Dr Tim Leahy, GP, Maylands