The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has welcomed a Tasmanian Liberals announcement make it easier for patients to access care for ADHD and called on all parties and candidates in the July state election reform ADHD care.
If re-elected, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Tasmanian GPs trained in ADHD would be able to provide assessments and diagnoses and initiate medication for children and adults.
This would make access to ADHD treatment faster, cheaper, and in many cases, via their usual GP, allowing patients living with ADHD to receive whole-of-person care from a GP who knows them and their history.
The Tasmanian Liberals will also allow patients to access ADHD medication prescribed in other states in Tasmania by the end of the year. This would break a significant barrier for patients diagnosed or managed by in other states.
ADHD is within the scope of general practice. It is in the curriculum for RACGP GP training, with ADHD modules also in the gplearning platform. Queensland GPs diagnosed ADHD and prescribed for patients aged 4–18 since 2017.
This week, the RACGP called for Tasmania to recognise GPs can provide this care following announcements GPs will be able to diagnose and prescribe for ADHD in Western Australia, New South Wales, the ACT, South Australia.
RACGP Tasmania Chair Dr Toby Gardner welcomed the Tasmanian Liberals' announcement and called on all parties and candidates to commit to reforms so specialist GPs can provide holistic care for patients with ADHD.
"Too many Tasmanians have been missing out on care because of challenges accessing a psychiatrist or paediatrician for a condition GPs are trained to manage, and have been diagnosing and managing for years on the mainland," he said.
"An ADHD assessment and diagnosis can cost thousands of dollars after months of waiting. The result is that patients in more rural and lower socioeconomic status areas miss out on care.
"Early intervention for children with ADHD sets children up for success at school and throughout their lives. For adults, a diagnosis and access to treatment by a GP who knows you can be lifechanging.
"This is an excellent move to break barriers to care from the Tasmanian Liberals.
"All parties and candidates should back ADHD reform. This is about setting Tasmanians up for success and our health system will benefit from reforms that allow specialist GPs to provide easier, safe access to ADHD care."
ADHD is estimated to affect 6–10% of children and young people and 2–10% of adults.
RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person's Health Chair Dr Tim Jones, who presented to Tasmania's Inquiry into the assessment and treatment of ADHD last year, said ADHD care in Tasmania is in dire need of an overhaul.
"As I've said before, our current system serves no one," he said.
"We see our patients, children and adults, struggle as they wait for care. It's not timely, it's not affordable, it's unfair for rural patients and those who can't afford to access care in the private system.
"Meanwhile, our medicine regulations block access for patients who've received care interstate. If a Tasmanian patient has received a diagnosis interstate, or a patient living with ADHD moves here, they need to plan well ahead to access local non-GP specialist care or fly interstate to access medication they take every day.
"As specialist GPs, we can be the solution."
He said specialist GPs are well-placed to provide holistic, lifelong care that supports patients living with ADHD to thrive throughout their lives.
"Patients living with ADHD really benefit from the kind of 'whole of person' care GPs provide," Dr Jones said.
"Specialist GPs provide holistic lifelong care. With management of their ADHD, patients can thrive across all stages of their lives, from early childhood to school, in further education or training, throughout their careers and family formation.
"Being able to access ADHD medication is transformative for most patients. But it's not the only solution, and it's rarely the sole solution.
"GPs can help patients with ADHD achieve good sleep and balance, them and their families understand and manage their behaviour, address stress, and reach their potential at school and at work. We can refer patients to services where they need more support to manage and any co-occurring conditions.
"That's what the role of specialist GPs can and should be in ADHD, the first and in most cases, primary carer who can apply their training and clinical judgement to provide holistic care for our patients."
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