GPs are already prescribing continued medication for ADHD patients, but soon they’ll be able to expand their services. Photo: orathaim164.
Illawarra patients could soon see more benefit from the state’s ADHD reforms with the first cohort of general practitioners in the process of developing the skills to diagnosis and prescribe without the need for a specialist referral.
Families are already saving up to $10 million statewide each year on out-of-pocket fees for ADHD medication with more than a thousand GPs able to offer repeat prescriptions.
Soon some of the region’s GPs, such as Dr Megan Lovesey, will be able to increase their role in the care of their patients.
“The need is really significant and it’s easy to underestimate the impact that ADHD has but I foresee that the reforms are going to benefit patients across the lifespan from younger children to adolescents to adults,” Dr Lovesey said.
“It isn’t about just some mild symptoms of being forgetful or fidgety – we’re talking about alleviating significant impairment that would otherwise exist across a person’s lifetime and can lead to immense struggle on a personal level and also a huge stress for families.”
Dr Lovesey had already become a continuation prescriber – easing pressure on the system by reducing the number of ADHD patients who need to go to paediatricians or psychiatrists to access ongoing medication – and now she’s going a step further as one of the 311 GPs training to diagnose and treat the condition.
After experiencing challenges getting her patients seen by specialists who had long wait times, Dr Lovesey was inspired to upskill to help increase the opportunity for people to be seen earlier and access the support they need.
“Having wait times improved especially for school-aged children who are starting to fall behind their peers, who are needing to be seen quite rapidly and also people who are at certain stages of life that can’t afford to wait, maybe because of their tertiary studies, or their career or family pressures – to me it’s a pretty time-crucial thing so it’s wonderful that the government’s been able to fast-track this,” Dr Lovesey said.
Dr Megan Lovesey is already a continuation prescriber for ADHD, but soon she’ll be able to guide patients from the very beginning. Photo: Supplied.
By being able to access the vital service at their regular provider, patients could even feel more comfortable to seek help with someone they trust.
“Every GP knows that the best medicine is delivered as a whole of person approach, and the research is there showing that wraparound holistic care delivers the best outcomes,” Dr Lovesey said.
“It’s really important having an established GP for patients – their GP knows them, they know their family, they know their health issues, barriers they may face and also then for the patient they may feel more comfortable seeing their regular doctor as opposed to another specialist for that assessment.
“We’re talking about things that can be lifelong struggles; for some patients it’s quite challenging to unpack the difficulties, cognitive and mood issues that they’ve faced across their life and they may feel more comfortable talking to someone who has seen them through other significant events in their life.”
The first cohort to undergo the training could complete it as early as June, however there have been different structures of study available to ensure the GPs can most effectively complete the work around other commitments.
Dr Lovesey opted for a self-paced approach, while also engaging with small group meetings with paediatricians or specialists to work through complex or challenging cases and gain further practical tips and advice.
“It’s all been running smoothly and I feel like I’m definitely being equipped to manage a lot of the patients that I would otherwise be referring on,” she said.
“I imagine that it’ll be within the next couple of months that I’ll be able to diagnose and treat ADHD but with the caveat that I will still be requesting an individual patient authority for the medication.
“It’s not until six months has gone by that the endorsed prescriber qualification is given.”
For Dr Lovesey it’s not about just fixing a problem, but rather enabling people with the condition to thrive and benefit the entire community.
“Some of the best minds I’ve met in medicine have been neurodivergent, and I recognise my patients with ADHD some common qualities – curiosity, creative and flexible thinking, inquisitiveness, wisdom and empathy – and when minds such as those get to flourish I think we’re all benefitted,” Dr Lovesey said.
“I just want to be really neuro-affirming and not just thinking about treating disease but also about enabling people to flourish and reach fulfilment.”
ADHD continuation prescribers in the area can be searched through the Health Direct website, with expressions of interest for future rounds of diagnosis and treatment training underway.
