How long and how much?: Wait times and costs for initial private child mental health appointments

Melissa Mulraney; Cindy Lee; Gary Freed; Michael Sawyer; David Coghill; Emma Sciberras; Daryl Efron; Harriet Hiscock

doi:10.1111/jpc.15253

How long and how much? Wait times and costs for initial private child mental health appointments

Melissa Mulraney (Lead / Corresponding author), Cindy Lee, Gary Freed, Michael Sawyer, David Coghill, Emma Sciberras, Daryl Efron, Harriet Hiscock

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

AIM: To determine: (i) wait times and out-of-pocket costs for children attending private specialists for initial mental health appointments; and (ii) whether these differed between specialists working in metropolitan versus rural areas and in low, medium and high socio-economic areas.

METHODS: Prospective secret shopper study whereby a researcher posed as a parent seeking an appointment for her child with anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We contacted 317 private paediatrician, psychiatrist and psychologist practices in Victoria and South Australia between 12 March and 5 May 2019.

RESULTS: One third (29.8%) of private practices were closed to new referrals. The average wait times for paediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychologists were 44, 41 and 34 days, respectively. Average out-of-pocket costs quoted were AU$120 for paediatricians, AU$176 for psychiatrists and AU$85 for psychologists.

CONCLUSION: Parents face extensive wait times and substantial out-of-pocket costs when seeking private mental health services for their child.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	526-532
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
Volume	57
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Nov 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15253
Publication status	Published - 5 Apr 2021

Keywords

Appointments and Schedules
Child
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Mental Health
Prospective Studies
South Australia
Victoria
Waiting Lists
cost
wait time
health service
mental health
child

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/jpc.15253

Cite this

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title = "How long and how much?: Wait times and costs for initial private child mental health appointments",

abstract = "AIM: To determine: (i) wait times and out-of-pocket costs for children attending private specialists for initial mental health appointments; and (ii) whether these differed between specialists working in metropolitan versus rural areas and in low, medium and high socio-economic areas.METHODS: Prospective secret shopper study whereby a researcher posed as a parent seeking an appointment for her child with anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We contacted 317 private paediatrician, psychiatrist and psychologist practices in Victoria and South Australia between 12 March and 5 May 2019.RESULTS: One third (29.8%) of private practices were closed to new referrals. The average wait times for paediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychologists were 44, 41 and 34 days, respectively. Average out-of-pocket costs quoted were AU$120 for paediatricians, AU$176 for psychiatrists and AU$85 for psychologists.CONCLUSION: Parents face extensive wait times and substantial out-of-pocket costs when seeking private mental health services for their child.",

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author = "Melissa Mulraney and Cindy Lee and Gary Freed and Michael Sawyer and David Coghill and Emma Sciberras and Daryl Efron and Harriet Hiscock",

note = "Funding Information: This project was funded by a Project Grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (1129957). MCRI is supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Prof Harriet Hiscock is supported by an NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship 1136222. Dr Sciberras is funded by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship 1110688 (2016‐2019) and a Veski Inspiring Women's Fellowship (2017‐2019). Dr Efron is funded by a Clinician Scientist Fellowship from MCRI. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians)",

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AU - Coghill, David

AU - Sciberras, Emma

AU - Efron, Daryl

AU - Hiscock, Harriet

N1 - Funding Information: This project was funded by a Project Grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (1129957). MCRI is supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Prof Harriet Hiscock is supported by an NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship 1136222. Dr Sciberras is funded by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship 1110688 (2016‐2019) and a Veski Inspiring Women's Fellowship (2017‐2019). Dr Efron is funded by a Clinician Scientist Fellowship from MCRI. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians)

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N2 - AIM: To determine: (i) wait times and out-of-pocket costs for children attending private specialists for initial mental health appointments; and (ii) whether these differed between specialists working in metropolitan versus rural areas and in low, medium and high socio-economic areas.METHODS: Prospective secret shopper study whereby a researcher posed as a parent seeking an appointment for her child with anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We contacted 317 private paediatrician, psychiatrist and psychologist practices in Victoria and South Australia between 12 March and 5 May 2019.RESULTS: One third (29.8%) of private practices were closed to new referrals. The average wait times for paediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychologists were 44, 41 and 34 days, respectively. Average out-of-pocket costs quoted were AU$120 for paediatricians, AU$176 for psychiatrists and AU$85 for psychologists.CONCLUSION: Parents face extensive wait times and substantial out-of-pocket costs when seeking private mental health services for their child.

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