Friday, 14 February 2025
The Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) welcomes the Cook Government’s election commitment to improve ADHD care in Western Australia, by enabling appropriately trained General Practitioners (GPs) to assess and treat non-complex ADHD patients.
This initiative along with appropriate GP training would enhance access to timely and affordable ADHD diagnosis and treatment, reducing the financial and logistical burden on families.
It will help individuals with ADHD, across all life stages, receive care from their trusted GP, rather than being subject to extended wait times.
Ensuring that GPs have access to high-quality training, underpinned by AADPA’s NHMRC endorsed Clinical Practice Guidelines and ADHD Prescribing Guide, will be critical to the success of this initiative.
AADPA acknowledges the pivotal role that GPs play in providing primary healthcare and welcomes the Cook Government’s commitment to consulting with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and AADPA to support the development and delivery of robust and practical ADHD education programs for GPs.
“Considering recent changes to WA’s prescribing of stimulant medication regulations, this is clearly the next step, and appropriate and robust education resources and training programs for GPs are needed to ensure that appropriate models of care deliver safe and appropriate treatment.” – AADPA President, Professor David Coghill
Investing in effective training and appropriate non-GP specialist psychiatric support through GP ASK, will ensure the safe and effective management of non-complex ADHD cases.
GPs already prescribe various Schedule 8 medications with Department of Health approval, and these reforms will align ADHD medication prescribing with existing safe prescribing protocols. The use of ScriptCheckWA, and its real-time prescription monitoring system, will further safeguard against inappropriate prescribing and ensure patient safety.
In addition, AADPA is delighted that our long-standing colleagues at ADHD WA have received a $1.2m funding commitment in this announcement. For many years, ADHD WA has worked tirelessly supporting the ADHD community in Western Australia, assisting many people and families to understand their challenges and seek appropriate treatment.
“I’m happy that Michele Toner and her team at ADHD WA will receive these funds. They have provided so much wonderful support to countless families and individuals over decades and have fought very hard to de-stigmatise ADHD. It’s well deserved” – Prof. Coghill
AADPA looks forward to working collaboratively with the WA Government to support this initiative and assist GPs to enhance their scope of practice safely and effectively, ensuring they have the necessary training, resources, and specialist support to provide high-quality ADHD care within primary healthcare settings.
