I was hoping to deliver some good news about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in this column, but we are still stuck in a system which prevents children and adults getting the support they need. The issue became very public two years ago when an Auckland GP, experienced in treating ADHD, was found guilty of misconduct. He had been prescribing Ritalin and its related drugs without specialist approval.
A situation he felt he was forced into when his supportive psychiatrist retired. Almost all the public response was positive and there was never any suggestion that he did harm. Moreover, everybody agreed that the current system was unsatisfactory, even those who administer it.
I gave evidence to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, a nerve-wracking experience in itself as the process is quite adversarial. But I tried to make the point that all the expense and resource involved in negatively auditing him would have been better spent on identifying some GPs and nurse practitioners who could do this job and helping them to get on with it. But ‘rules are rules’ and we are still constrained by the requirement for a specialist to diagnose ADHD and sign off treatment.
In addition, this approval has to be renewed every two years, creating a considerable barrier to treatment and all sorts of inequity issues. Since then, I understand there have been high level meetings to find a better solution. An announcement could be pending, or not, it’s hard to find ou.
