LAUSR

compounding these problems. Limiting appointments for children with developmental/behavioural problems may reflect the increased time needed to manage developmental/behavioural problems, lack of compensation for post consultation tasks, or inadequate paediatric training in developmental/behavioural conditions. Our data raise the possibility of inequity in timely access to care for Australian children with developmental and behavioural problems, as well as those attending public versus private settings. The National Health and Medical Research Council’s major foci include ‘the social determinants of health and health inequalities, in terms of both health outcomes and access to health care’. If we are to have a healthy society where every child has a right to achieve their potential, then access to care must be equitable across health settings and conditions. Paediatricians must now work with primary care, policy makers and systems managers to improve access to care, especially for children with developmental and behavioural problems.