More ADHD training and support needed for GPs
New rules to allow trained GPs to diagnose and prescribe treatment for ADHD have been welcomed by AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath – but he wants to see clearer processes around training, and support for ongoing education.
As part of the 2025-26 State Budget, $1.3 million was committed to the ADHD GP Program.
Once trained and accredited, GPs will be able to assess ADHD in patients aged 10 and older; and prescribe stimulant medications, under recent changes to WA’s prescribing regulations.
The training program, developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, will be supported by specialist mentorship, and delivered with oversight from WA Health.
The first group of 65 GPs is expected to be trained by the end of 2026. To complement this medical reform, the WA Government is also providing $1.2 million to ADHD WA to expand its services – offering practical help to families such as counselling, peer support, coaching, and guidance on non-medication options. This work aligns with national clinical guidelines and WA’s broader efforts to strengthen child development services across the health system. A new advisory committee will be established to guide the rollout, with a focus on equity and safety.
Dr Hoath, a psychiatrist, said GPs should be able to access specialists should they have more complex cases.
“Because, although we think this will de-bottleneck some access to specialist care, it is probably only the first step in solving the problem,” he told WAMN News.
On more complex patient cases which could involve co-morbidities, Dr Hoath said it is very “important to make sure” there is “adequate medical management from a sort of holistic care, primary care, physician point of view” which “GPs offer in a way that no one else in the health sector can”.
“In a perfect world, being able to access a psychiatrist or specialist with more ease, for patients where there is some complexity or some significant comorbidity, would still de-bottleneck the system to a degree, and allow GPs to manage cases with less comorbidity – while patients with comorbidity were more easily able to access support in the private sector with a specialist, rather than having to wait,” he said.
“And I think something has to change to improve these waiting times, because whilst I agree with the system, the process is complex. It’s also very long and disadvantageous… there are people who can’t afford to access care as well, which is probably a separate but also very important issue.”
“ Although we think this will de-bottleneck some access to specialist care, it is probably only the first step in solving the problem.
Dr Hoath said, from a federal government point of view, Medicare item numbers for ADHD assessments would be very beneficial.
“Enabling more professionals who had spent time learning, and had a degree of expertise in ADHD assessment, to conduct those and have it rebated for patients, would provide other alternatives for patients to access care,” he said.
“Currently, if a psychologist does an ADHD assessment, which doesn’t necessarily cover all comorbidities, it’s not covered by Medicare at all, hence a significant out-of-pocket expense for patients.”
Regarding presentations of ADHD, which is often very different in females compared to males, Dr Hoath told WAMN News that education is very important.
“From a broader education point of view, I wouldn’t limit that just to GPs,” he said.
“I think education to psychiatrists and other doctors would be important as well.
“And that’s the sort of thing we’re asking the Government for; there’s a commitment to, but no funding, for this GP or greater medical workforce education around what ADHD looks like, how to manage it, and the comorbidities.
“… so that would be our big ask: to fund and support adequate training in ADHD.”