Will I Ever Be Seen? Perth parents are waiting longer than ever for paediatric help with their baby or child’s developmental issues. But it doesn’t need to be this way; Baby Steps GPs have the answer.

Society’s increase in awareness of child development issues has brought with it better understanding of and ways to treat complex conditions in babies and children. But no good deed goes unpunished; as a result, Perth (and the rest of Australia, for that matter) is experiencing a severe shortage of general and developmental Paediatricians, and it’s left many families in dire straits.

As of 2024, children in WA’s public health system are facing wait times of up to 3.5 years to see a Paediatrician, with nearly 10,000 children currently on the waitlist. It’s not much quicker paying out of pocket either: about one-third of Perth’s private Paediatricians have closed their books entirely, and another third have waitlists exceeding six months.

It’s hard to hear that early intervention is the answer when current waits seem to prohibit the possibility of having your child seen in the near future, and any hints of an oasis on the horizon are, at this point, likely a mirage.

Perth’s Paediatrician drought is affecting parents and children alike.

Anyone who’s tried to book an appointment with a Paediatrician in the last few years will tell you that it’s been trying at best and disheartening at worst. There are many excellent Paediatricians around but accessing them in a timely fashion is another story.

In April 2024, the WA State Government announced a $39 million investment to expand Child Development Services, including occupational therapy, speech pathology, and developmental paediatrics. However, the impact of this funding remains to be seen, and many families are still searching for answers.

Why the long wait?

There are several reasons for the current paediatric predicament and while they may include retirement and burnout of established Paediatricians, long training periods for new Paediatricians and a medical system that can’t keep up with demand, or increased understanding (and therefore incidences) of conditions like ADHD and autism, the result is the same.

You can’t make this up…

A scroll through Facebook groups like Perth Mums Group, Help A Sister Out! – Perth and Mums and Bubs WA weaves the same story; exasperated parents at their wit’s end who, sick of repeated phone rejections, are turning to the internet as a last resort.

Below is a poignant collection of very real voices who’ve posted or answered anonymously on these parenting groups. Some are looking for help with securing a spot on a Paediatrician’s waitlist, and some are just looking for help.

“Paediatricians are rare as hen’s teeth” – Facebook user

“Been on the public list since my 4yr old was 2” – Facebook user

“I am desperately trying to find a Paediatrician in Perth to see my son who I am certain has ADHD… so far I have tried 12 different paeds and cant even get onto a waitlist…” – Facebook user

“I’ve been waiting 7 months for my daughter to be seen. My fingers are crossed that we’ll get in before she’s 18,” – Facebook user

“I’ve been on the phone this afternoon to a few and boy oh boy, this is going to be a long wait,” – Facebook user

It’s heartbreaking to see so many parents in the same situation and worse still to think of the number of children struggling without a solution.

The effects of delays in treating developmental issues

On top of the mental frustration and inertia of long paediatric wait times, delaying assessment and treatment of child developmental issues can have detrimental effects for a child’s ongoing development.

Common difficulties associated with untreated developmental issues in children could include:

• Problems understanding and following instructions 
• Limited vocabulary and hindered communication 
• Poor language acquisition and clarity 
• Lower endurance and ability to manage a full school day 
• Higher susceptibility to other health issues if development delay is physical 
• Lower self-esteem compared to peers 
• Decreased fine motor skills Inability to complete self-care tasks (like tying up shoelaces or using cutlery) 
• Decreased self-regulation 
• Difficulty adhering to curriculum 
• Worsening social problems (maintaining eye contact, learning personal space boundaries and turn-taking in conversations) 
• Difficulty making and maintaining friendships 
• Poor academic performance and keeping up with academic year

Delays in assessments can hinder timely access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), exacerbating financial and support challenges for families with children potentially on the autism spectrum.

Some of these difficulties can be avoided (sometimes even before seeing a Paediatrician); it’s just about finding the right help and knowing where to look.

Productivity while waiting for a Paediatrician

Short of seeking the help of other Perth parents from the comfort of your keyboard, there are steps you can take to get your child seen by a professional to streamline the process leading up to your paediatric appointment.

Allied health professionals like occupational therapists, speech pathologists, child psychologists and physiotherapists may be able to help with some cases in the interim, but it can be difficult to determine which services your child might need. That’s where a specially trained GP comes in.

Book a Baby Steps Developmental Progress Consultation

There will be some instances where seeing a Paediatrician is an absolute necessity (for instance, when you need a formal assessment for your child in order to receive the appropriate funding) but many other parents and children will benefit from guidance and support in the interim.

The Developmental Progress Consultation is a Baby Steps initiative that strives to fill the gap that many parents currently feel. It is an appointment led by GPs specially trained in child development and while it cannot replace a formal Paediatric screening and assessment, it can help answer parents’ questions about their child’s developmental milestones, problems with mobility, coordination and communication, and behavioural issues. Parents can use this session to learn effective parenting strategies and for quick, easy access to Allied Health Professionals.

Advice from Dr Leon Levitt

With child developmental issues on the rise, so too are levels of parental stress. An 8-month wait to see a Paediatrician translates to a lot of time spent on Google trying to find the answers to your baby or child’s delays or problems in the meantime, and it’s a breeding ground for anxiety.

We want to help reduce parents’ stress while getting children as prompt access to help as possible, and that’s the driving force behind the idea for the Developmental Progress Consultation.

When you worry alone, anxiety builds, and children will pick up on your energy. This initiative is just part of the Baby Steps mission to guide parents through the early years of parenting, to bring more calm and joy, and less anxiety.