Beginning this week, GPs in New South Wales can write continuation scripts for patients with ADHD.
Around 100 GPs in NSW are now permitted to write continuation scripts for psychostimulant medicines, with that figure set to increase dramatically over the coming weeks.
September first marked the introduction of GP continuation prescribing for both adults and children who are already on medication for ADHD.
According to NSW Health, the second phase of the reforms – which will allow GPs to diagnose ADHD and initiate treatment with psychostimulant medicines – will kick in before the year is out.
Around 1300 of the state’s GPs have expressed interest in prescribing for ADHD, but as of Tuesday morning only around 60 had officially completed the required training.
RACGP NSW chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman told The Medical Republic that this number should rise to around 100 by the end of the day.
“There were [a number] approved overnight, with another 30 pending,” she said.
“They’ve all been completed. They just need to get their forms ticked off and signed off as all being done. So, the numbers are definitely, rapidly picking up.”
Dr Hoffman said the training itself was not onerous but did involve GPs having to complete paperwork with the Ministry of Health once they finished the module.
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She also said that it would be “full steam ahead” to get everything in place for GP-led psychostimulant prescribing before the end of the year.
“We’re keen to make sure that GPs are really confident in this space,” Dr Hoffman said.
“We want more than just ‘please go and start prescribing’. We want GPs to be supported through funding to be able to do the appropriate training, but also for ongoing mentorship and support.”
The NSW government confirmed on Tuesday that it would cover the cost of training and access to resources for GPs via NSW Health.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the response from the GP community had been “really positive”.
“As well as saving patients and their families time and money, we’re enabling GPs to do something they have always wanted to do and that is help their patients as much as they can in the primary health setting,” he said.
AMA NSW’s Council of General Practice chair Dr Kenneth McCroary told TMR that, on a practical level, this first round of changes would be felt more as an administrative relief.
“I’m quite happy and proud to have gotten my approval number yesterday to continue general prescription [of psychostimulants],” the Southwest Sydney GP said.
“The issue is that it is what we do anyway.
“It means that, instead of getting an individual approval to continue prescribing people ADHD stimulant medications, we now don’t have to get that letter.”
Dr McCroary, who works in a relatively underserved outer metro area, said he still held concerns about access.
“Out here, we’ve had 56 practices close since the election before last, which is really frustrating,” he said.
“If 5% to 10% of the population have ADHD, we’ve got 60,000 to 120,000 residents, minimum, with the disease.
“I really still struggle to see how I’m going to get them to get diagnosed and commence on therapy, because they can’t afford to.”
Dr McCroary also welcomed the announcement that GPs would be financially supported to undertake training.
