NSW psychiatrists have called for robust training for GPs to diagnose and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and clear pathways to specialist care for complex presentations. 

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists NSW Branch has welcomed today's announcement by the NSW Government, which will allow specialist GPs to diagnose ADHD in adults and children from March under the second stage of its reforms. 

RANZCP NSW Branch Chair Dr Ian Korbel said while the reforms address a significant gap in access to ADHD care in NSW, careful implementation will be critical. 

"GPs are often the first port of call for people seeking help with ADHD. Equipping them with the right training and support means they can effectively manage many ADHD cases with appropriate safeguards and within structured shared-care arrangements, easing pressure on a system where psychiatrist and paediatrician shortages and waitlists have left too many people waiting far too long for a diagnosis or treatment,” Dr Korbel said. 

"That said, it's important to recognise that enabling GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD alone won't resolve every challenge in ADHD care across NSW. Critically, there also needs to be meaningful investment in building specialist ADHD capacity within the public system, where services for ADHD care are either extremely limited or non-existent."  

"A thorough psychiatric assessment must underpin any ADHD diagnosis. Psychiatrists have been at the forefront of ADHD treatment and care for years, and their expertise is integral to the training and upskilling of GPs in this space,” Dr Korbel said. 

Symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity can overlap with a range of other mental health conditions, neurodevelopmental differences, past trauma, and psychosocial stressors. The RANZCP has previously warned that while stimulant medications can be highly effective, they are not without risks, and initiation should occur only when diagnostic confidence is high. 

“Getting the diagnosis right is fundamental to getting the treatment right and ensuring stimulant medications are prescribed safely and appropriately,” Dr Korbel said. 

"For these reforms to be both effective and safe in practice, they need to be underpinned by key safeguards: mandatory accredited training for GPs in comprehensive psychiatric assessment, structured shared-care models where specialists confirm diagnosis and manage complex or high-risk cases, clear referral and escalation pathways to psychiatrists and other specialists, and strong clinical governance. 

"We recognise the real impact that long wait times and high out-of-pocket costs have had on individuals and families seeking ADHD care, and we look forward to working alongside the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners NSW, people with lived experience and the NSW Government to ensure these reforms deliver safe, high-quality outcomes for the people of NSW,” Dr Korbel said.  

Read the RANZCP’s full position statement on ADHD. 

ENQUIRIES: For more information, or to arrange an interview call Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org.  

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org. 

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