Game changing reforms allow GPs to treat ADHD to reduce wait times and costs

Currently, most people seeking a diagnosis, management and ongoing prescription medication for ADHD must see a specialist. This is often extremely expensive and many patients wait months or years to get a diagnosis, or can’t access treatment at all.

The Minns Labor Government will enable GPs to provide ongoing ADHD prescriptions for children and adults who are on stable doses of medication, without the need of a formal arrangement. 

A smaller number of GPs will be enabled to diagnose and initiate medication where appropriate.

Once fully implemented, these reforms will save patients both months of waiting as well as significant costs in accessing treatment. 

In both instances, GPs will be required to undertake accredited training and will receive support. Expressions of interest for GPs to undertake additional education and training requirements will be sought in coming months.

Interested GPs will be able to choose between two tiers of accredited training or registration, with each providing differing levels of capacity to diagnose, treat, prescribe or manage ADHD.

Up to 1000 GPs will be supported to complete additional training to allow continuation prescriptions once a patient has been stabilised.

NSW Health will fund these training packages and mentorship and access to resources to access the implementation of the reforms.

These reforms will be implemented in a staged approach, with an initial focus on prescriptions for children.

This is because a delay in diagnosis can have a significant impact on a child’s development, such as poorer academic progress, employment opportunities and mental health.

NSW is the third state to implement reforms to make it easier for people to access treatment for ADHD. In Queensland, GPs can prescribe certain ADHD medications for children without a prescribing approval, and Western Australia has proposed to allow patients to receive a diagnosis and treatment from specialist GPs with specific skills and additional training in ADHD diagnosis and management.

GP training will commence in the coming months and the ability for GPs to provide ongoing prescriptions for children is expected to open up in early 2026.

Quotes attributable to Premier Chris Minns:

“By safely training more GPs to treat and diagnose ADHD, we are hoping to break the cycle of people having to wait years for, what can be, a life-altering diagnosis.

“Not getting diagnosed and not being able to access treatment can have a particularly big impact on a child getting the most out of their life, whether that’s academically or socially.

“These reforms help tilt the scales in favour of fairness – reducing the cost of getting treatment by hundreds of dollars, removing red tape for thousands of families and young people, and giving people the support they need to live happier, healthier lives.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We’re making it easier for children and adults to receive a diagnosis as well as prescription medication for ADHD by allowing GPs to manage this condition.

“We know that people endure long wait times as well as significant expenses just to see a specialist to receive a diagnosis.

“We’re not going to stand idly by while people struggle to access life-changing treatment.

“The option to see a GP to manage ADHD will provide a timely, safe and appropriate pathway to care, while relieving pressure on in-demand specialists.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“For families who’ve been waiting, worrying, and paying too much — this is the much needed relief they’ve been hoping for. Now families won’t need to reach for their credit cards to get the help they need.

“This is about fairness — saving families hundreds of dollars and giving them quicker access to the help they need, without the long, expensive wait for a specialist.

“Too many families are stuck waiting, paying, and struggling to access basic ADHD support — especially in the regions. That’s not just frustrating, it’s fundamentally unfair.

“For kids and families dealing with ADHD, the difference between getting help now and waiting years can be life-changing.

“This is what a fairer mental health system looks like — more choice, less red tape, and support that meets people where they are.”

Quotes attributable to RACGP NSW & ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman:

“As I travel across New South Wales, I hear from my colleagues about families in rural areas who travel more than seven hours to see a paediatrician, and of families in Sydney spending more than $5,000 on assessments and diagnosis for ADHD.

“This announcement will have life-changing impacts when it comes to accessing timely and affordable ADHD care for families across the state.

“We know when it comes to ADHD that early intervention is vital, and being able to access appropriate therapy and medications from a young age helps kids thrive at school and at home. So, enabling GPs with specific skills to initiate prescriptions for ADHD medications will stop many children from languishing on outpatient waiting lists. 

“GPs in many parts of Australia, and around the world, are already diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medications. Our colleagues in Queensland, for example, have been safely prescribing ADHD medications since 2017.

“We thank the Minns Labor Government and our non-GP specialist colleagues for working with us to deliver safe, accessible, affordable care for children with ADHD. In the years ahead, we look forward to working constructively with the Government to go even further and train up more GPs to diagnose and initiate medication so that all families can access the care and treatment they need.”

Quotes attributable to Mario Barone, NSW President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia:

"Community pharmacies see ADHD patients every day who are struggling to access a psychiatrist. This means that many ADHD patients are going without important medication. Today's announcement is a demonstration of the NSW Government's excellent work to improve access to health care."