From 1 February, the government has enabled specially trained GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD in adults.

Katikati Medical Centre will not be offering ADHD assessments. This decision is based on patient safety and our commitment to providing accurate diagnosis, safe prescribing and appropriate follow-up care.

Medical Specialists who provide ADHD assessment and treatment must have specific training and expertise in this area to ensure safe and effective care. This level of specialised assessment and management is not within the standard scope of general practice.

ADHD assessments require:

• An initial extended consultation of approximately 2 hours
• Additional follow-up appointments
• Administration time to process assessment tools and scoring

Unlike routine GP appointments, there is no additional funding for these services. As a result, the cost would be covered by the patient would be hundreds of dollars. The extended time required would also reduce appointment availability for routine medical care for other patients.

If you are seeking an ADHD assessment, many providers accept self-referrals. When considering a provider, we recommend taking the following into consideration:

• Can the provider complete the assessment and initiate medication or do they only assess for ADHD and refer for treatment – Our doctors generally do not start or titrate ADHD medications and prescribing responsibility transfers to the GP once medication is stable and will then provide the ongoing scripts.

Please note ADHD medication is not eligible for 12 month prescribing.

• Expected wait times and costs
• Their individual assessment and treatment processes

If you are unsure and would like further discussion, you can book a routine appointment with your GP  who can refer you to a clinic of your choice.