ADHD referrals "virtually impossible": GPs & advocates
GPs say it is virtually impossible to get patients referred for a publicly funded ADHD assessment - and a new survey backs that up. Anyone with suspected ADHD must get an inital assessment by a psychiatrist or clinical psycholgist, while the prescribing of ritalin and other ADHD drugs can only be made by a psychiatrist. General practitioners say they're frustrated and worried by the difficulty in getting patients a assessment in the public health system, and say even those who can pay privately or have insurance, have a long wait. ADHD New Zealand has surveyed its membership, which finds that people are waiting longer - both public and private, and that only a quarter of respondents are receiving support from a psychiatrist or psychologist. Of those waiting for support, a fifth just give up. Kathryn speaks with Chair of General Practice NZ, Dr Bryan Betty, and ADHD New Zealand's chair Darrin Bull.