Nearly 300 general practitioners across New South Wales are now authorised to assess, diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD in both adults and children, in a significant shake-up that the state government says will slash wait times and reduce out-of-pocket costs by as much as $1500 a year for eligible patients.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park announced the reforms on Wednesday, describing them as a major step toward making healthcare more accessible and affordable, particularly for families in regional and remote communities.
What the ADHD reforms mean for NSW patients
Under the changes, GPs who have completed specialised endorsed prescriber training can now conduct extended appointments to assess, diagnose and initiate treatment for ADHD, rather than referring all patients directly to psychiatrists or paediatricians. The government says this could allow patients to be seen within days or weeks, compared with the many months some have waited to access a specialist.
"What that means is faster diagnosis, cheaper healthcare and more accessible healthcare," Minister Park said.
The assessments will involve longer consultations than a standard GP visit. GPs participating in the program will be backed by specialist support through the Virtual Psychiatry Hub and the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, and will retain the ability to refer patients to specialists and escalate care where needed.
Up to 2500 free GP ADHD assessments will be funded under the reforms, with the government saying eligible patients could save up to $1500 a year in costs they would otherwise have incurred seeing a specialist.
Addressing the tyranny of distance in regional NSW
Minister Park emphasised that one of the key motivations behind the policy is reducing the burden on patients in regional, rural and remote parts of the state, where accessing a specialist can require long travel times and extended waits.
"For people living in regional, rural, or remote NSW it can be the tyranny of distance and long drives to get access to a specialist," he said. "What we're trying to do here is make the care closer to home."
The initiative mirrors broader efforts by state governments to expand access to subsidised healthcare and reduce financial pressure on patients seeking specialist-level care. Mental health service access has also been a growing policy priority nationally, with programs such as new community mental health services being rolled out in other parts of the country to meet rising demand.
More GPs expected to join the program next month
The rollout is set to expand further in the coming weeks. An additional 300 GPs are expected to begin the endorsed prescriber training next month, broadening the number of practitioners across NSW qualified to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Locations of GP endorsed prescribers will be listed through the Healthdirect website from next month, giving patients a straightforward way to find a qualified provider near them.
Minister Park said the reforms strike the right balance between accessibility and quality of care. "This is an important change. What we need to do is be able to provide healthcare in a more accessible way and a more affordable way but still effectively," he said.
With ADHD diagnoses continuing to rise across Australia, the changes are expected to ease pressure on the specialist system while giving more patients a practical path to timely assessment and treatment without the financial and logistical barriers that have historically made care difficult to access.
