Tasmanian doctors call for expanded powers to diagnose and treat ADHD

The peak body for GPs has called on the state government to expand powers to allow doctors to diagnose and treat ADHD after reforms were introduced interstate.

The RACGP has called on the state government to expand ADHD treatment powers. Picture: istock

The peak body for GPs has called on the Tasmanian Government to expand powers to allow doctors to diagnose and treat ADHD after reforms were introduced interstate.

The WA Government committed to allowing specialist GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD in February this year, removing the need for patients to be diagnosed exclusively through psychiatrists or pediatricians.

The NSW Government announced similar changes in May to allow doctors to provide ongoing medication prescriptions while the ACT Government also committed to allowing GPs to diagnose the condition in 2024.

RACGP Tasmania Chair Toby Gardner said similar changes in Tasmania were “overdue”.

With treatment often expensive and inaccessible, Dr Gardner said GPs, supported by “appropriate prescribing guidelines” could make care “both more affordable and accessible”.

Doctor Toby Gardner chair of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“As specialist GPs, we are the most accessed and accessible element of our health system, providing long-term support and helping improve outcomes for patients” he said.

“That puts specialist GPs in a perfect position to support patients with ADHD.”

The RACGP have repeatedly called for more nationally consistent treatment models for patients with ADHD, including in the state government’s inquiry into the assessment and treatment of ADHD and support services which opened submissions in July last year.

Having told the parliamentary committee the lack of widely available care meant Tasmanians were at heightened risk of outsourcing treatment through online ADHD services, Australasian ADHD Professional Association President David Coghill said he would support the reforms but maintained it hinged on GPs having adequate specialist training and ongoing support.

“It’s correct that GPs can play a big part in supporting good quality care … but the proviso is that they have good enough education, training and support,” he said.

“We know most GPs have not as part of their specialist training been trained to support people with ADHD and that’s need to change.

The number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD has skyrocketed in the last decade, with 470,000 people receiving medication in 2022-2023 according to the latest PBS data. Picture: iStock

“If there’s more doctors available locally to be part of (treatment) I think it would potentially reduce the risk of people moving online for quick fix, high cost online services.

“What is key to successful outcomes is continuity of care, where each step builds on the previous treatment, and expanding the role of GPs has the potential to help that.”

The number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD has skyrocketed in the last decade, with 470,000 people receiving medication in 2022-2023 according to the latest PBS data.

With psychiatry workforce shortages, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists President Astha Tomar said expanding the roles of GPs was not a “silver bullet”.

“ADHD diagnosis can often be complex, particularly when symptoms overlap with other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma,” she said.

“A good shared-care model involves psychiatrists handling complex cases while GPs provide ongoing management and care - but this requires comprehensive specialist training for GPs and specialist support from a psychiatrist available when needed, in a well-resourced and well-connected mental health system.”

The state government was contacted for comment.

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Originally published as Tasmanian doctors call for expanded powers to diagnose and treat ADHD