The New South Wales (NSW) government is implementing changes that will allow general practitioners (GPs) to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medications. This aims to alleviate long wait times and high costs currently associated with accessing specialized care.
GP training for ADHD diagnosis and prescription will commence in the coming months, with the expectation that GPs will begin providing ongoing prescriptions for children in early 2026.
Advocates and medical professionals welcome this move, highlighting the positive impact on families struggling with access to timely and affordable care. The NSW Health Minister emphasized the government's commitment to improving access to life-changing treatment.
Armstrong, who has long been an advocate for better access to diagnosis and treatment of ADHD for children, said it was “an anxious process waiting to get to the top of the wait list”.
“I will do anything for my children, it’s what parents do. But it really shouldn’t be that hard. There’s got to be an easier way to access life-changing care – that’s how I’d describe treatment for ADHD.
“I do feel for families and people who weren’t as lucky as we were because, for many young people, they may just give up trying to find help, especially when you consider the cost of each appointment, and you may have multiple appointments a year.”
Armstrong said she was “incredibly grateful” that the Minns government had listened and acted on “this incredibly long-standing issue”.
Dr Rebekah Hoffman, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners NSW and ACT, said she often heard of families in rural areas who travelled more than seven hours to see a paediatrician for ADHD. In Sydney, families can spend more than $5000 on assessments for ADHD.
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“This announcement will have life-changing impacts when it comes to accessing timely and affordable ADHD care for families across the state,” Hoffman said.
“We know when it comes to ADHD that early intervention is vital, and being able to access appropriate therapy and medications from a young age helps kids thrive at school and at home. So, enabling GPs with specific skills to initiate prescriptions for ADHD medications will stop many children from languishing on outpatient waiting lists.
“GPs in many parts of Australia, and around the world, are already diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medications. Our colleagues in Queensland, for example, have been safely prescribing ADHD medications since 2017.”
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said GP training would start in coming months and the ability for GPs to provide ongoing prescriptions for children was expected to open up in early 2026.
“We know that people endure long wait times as well as significant expenses just to see a specialist to receive a diagnosis, [and] we’re not going to stand idly by while people struggle to access life-changing treatment,” Park said
“The option to see a GP to manage ADHD will provide a timely, safe and appropriate pathway to care, while relieving pressure on in-demand specialists.”
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