St. John’s, N.L. (March 21, 2025) – Barry Petten, Progressive Conservative MHA for Conception Bay South and Shadow Minister for Health and Community Services, is raising serious concerns about the alarming wait times for ADHD and autism assessments in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A recent CBC article revealed that adults may wait between 18 months and five years for assessments, while children can face delays of 12 to 27 months, depending on the type of assessment and location.

“The healthcare crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador has reached a breaking point, with families facing unacceptable wait times for ADHD and autism assessments,” said Petten.

“Reports indicate that adults may wait up to five years for psychological evaluations, while children could experience delays of over two years. This is a clear failure of our healthcare system, leaving vulnerable individuals without the critical support they need.”

Petten expressed concern that families are being forced to choose between waiting years for essential assessments or spending thousands of dollars on private care. “The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve a healthcare system that prioritizes their well-being,” added Petten. “It is unacceptable that residents are left in limbo, struggling to access the mental health services they urgently need.”

Further complicating the issue is the ongoing public disagreement between the Acting Minister of Health and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) regarding the accuracy of wait times. “This public dispute highlights a serious lack of communication and planning within our government,” continued Petten. “How can we trust a system that is so disconnected at its highest levels? The health and well-being of our residents should never be a point of contention.”

Petten is calling on the government to take immediate action to address these unacceptable wait times and implement a cohesive plan that ensures mental health resources are accessible to all.

“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve better than a healthcare system that fails to meet their needs. They deserve a Wakeham PC government focused on providing better healthcare for all of us.”