‘A welcome milestone’: GPs to be trained to resupply ADHD meds

General Practitioners are able to express interest in undertaking training, so they can resupply patients with ADHD medication in changes that began on Thursday.

Royal Australia College of General Practitioners NSW & ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

General practitioners will be able to resupply ADHD medication to their patients from September, preventing the need for expensive specialist appointments.

Under former rules people seeking an ADHD diagnosis were required to see a specialist psychiatrist or pediatrician, who were then responsible for their ongoing management and follow-up prescriptions.

From today, however, GPs can express their interest in undertaking the required training on the NSW Health website, which will allow them to resupply prescriptions without needing a formal arrangement with a psychiatrist or pediatrician, meaning faster access to care and fewer financial barriers for families.

The initial rollout by the Minns Government will prioritise children on stable doses of medication to ensure early and consistent access to care.

By the end of the year, further training will be rolled out to enable GPs to diagnose and initiate medication for patients.

NSW Health is paying for GPs to complete this training and access to resources so as many people as possible can benefit from these changes.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park speaks during Question Time in the Legislative Assembly at New South Wales Parliament House in Sydney. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“The beginning of this training is a welcome milestone because it means people, especially children, with ADHD are one step closer to having their condition managed by a GP,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said.

“These reforms will have a positive impact on patients both in terms of saving them time and money while accessing care that they need, but we also know the flow on effects will be huge.”

Royal Australia College of General Practitioners NSW & ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said the reforms would remove boundaries particularly for people in rural and regional areas.

“The new training program empowers GPs to expand their scope and ensure more equitable access to ADHD treatment across NSW, particularly for children and families in regional and rural areas,” she said.

“GPs are experts in long-term, holistic, complex and chronic care. This reform recognises our role and strengthens the continuity of care for people living with ADHD.”

Originally published as ‘A welcome milestone’: GPs to be trained to resupply ADHD meds