Bringing ADHD care closer to home for Northern NSW families

Watch the story on NBN News

L-R: Kerry Stubbs (Healthy North Coast Board), Dr Thabani Mapudzi (GP, Bulgarr-Ngaru), Dr James Hodges (Head of Paediatrics, Grafton Base Hospital), Luke Elias (Director Primary Health Programs and Partnerships, Healthy North Coast), Scott Monaghan (CEO Bulgarr-Ngaru).

Children living with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Northern NSW and their families are benefiting from a partnership between paediatricians and general practitioners that aims to streamline access to care and treatment.

More than 250 children are already being cared for under the model which was launched in September 2024 and allows patients to transition to care with their local GP after first seeing a paediatrician to confirm the diagnosis. The GP is then responsible for ongoing prescribing and monitoring of ADHD medication.

The program will provide care closer to home and save time and costs for patients, their carers and families.

Read the full media release from Minister for Health, Ryan Park.

There are two new HealthPathways that have been developed to assist practitioners in the new model of care:

• ADHD in children and adolescents
• ADHD medication co-management for children and adolescents