South Australian government to allow GPs to diagnose ADHD
Currently, adults in South Australia seeking an ADHD diagnosis must be assessed by a psychiatrist, while children must see a paediatrician.
The state government argues the existing regulations have made it "extremely difficult" to get an ADHD diagnosis due to long wait times and high costs to see a specialist.
Rule changes announced by the government on Friday will allow specially trained GPs to diagnose the disorder.
It will also allow GPs to prescribe ADHD medication without having to provide evidence to SA Health of a diagnosis from a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
The reforms will come into effect in 2026.
Health Minister Chris Picton said some patients have spent more than $2,000 for a diagnosis.
"That's a huge expense for South Australians and it means that people are missing out on important healthcare that can make a difference for them," he said.
Mr Picton also argued the reforms would free up "significant capacity" for psychiatrists and paediatricians to undertake other mental health work.
"We know that there's significant need in the community for a whole range of other afflictions people have," he said.
The reforms follow a similar move by New South Wales earlier this year. The Western Australian government has also committed to the reform.
Specialist training for GPs who want to be involved in ADHD diagnoses will be made available from next year.
This is on top of online training modules that are already available through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
RACGP chair Siân Goodson said not all GPs will take up the additional training.
But she added that many GPs already have experience dealing with ADHD patients.
"GPs are often co-managing these patients already, so we often prescribe once we've got the diagnosis is confirmed," she said.
"So, we're already getting experience in managing medication and managing these people."
Dr Goodson, who is also a GP in Adelaide's northern suburbs, said patients are regularly reporting ADHD symptoms to their doctor.
She said early ADHD diagnosis was "really important" for children.
"We see people waiting a long time for that diagnosis falling behind at school and the outcomes are less good," she said.
"But also for adults, sometimes they've struggled for a long time, they've lost their job or they're not functioning at home.
Mother Vaia Allen said she spent around $3,000 on getting an ADHD diagnosis for her 12-year-old daughter Pippa.
The cost, Ms Allen said, did not include ongoing medication and regular GP appointments. She also needed to travel from Victoria to South Australia.
Ms Allen said her daughter has been on ADHD medication for around four months and it has greatly helped her learning in school.
"When we got Pip on ADHD medication, it was so helpful … in her classroom for her teacher, the students around her, and obviously for herself," she said.
"It's really obvious to me that the education outcomes are so important in terms of their focus and changing their life trajectory.
"She can sit there, listen and understand now."
Deborah McLean, president of the South Australian Psychologists Association (SAPA), welcomed the state government's rule changes.
She also expressed confidence that the training offered to GPs will be sufficient to correctly diagnose ADHD.
But she cautioned that some ADHD patients will still need access to "holistic diagnosis assessment and then treatment" for concurrent conditions like depression and anxiety.
"It means that we may only be treating part of the problem.
"I think for a lot of people, though, this is a really positive step forward and a way to be able to access the essential services they need."
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) SA Branch also welcomed the rule changes.
But the college cautioned that the government "must prioritise patient safety and quality outcomes through greater training and support for doctors treating ADHD".
RANZCP SA chair Patrick Clarke, a North Adelaide psychiatrist, said he currently treats around 150 ADHD patients.
"That's all I can manage, and I can't take on any more," Dr Clarke said in a statement.
"So, we're glad to see the SA government doing more to expand access to ADHD care in the state for people who are missing out on help.
"Giving trainee specialists more ADHD exposure will greatly increase the pool of doctors with appropriate exposure to see these patients."
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