GP Referral Information
We are currently listed on ERMS (NZ Telepsych Network).
If you are not a user of ERMS, please send any referrals to this email address and we will contact the client to start the assessment process.
The ideal referral for our service includes:
- Patient email address and phone number
- The difficulties that are thought to be attributable to ADHD
- Past medical history
- Mental health history (or lack thereof)
- Substance use history (or lack thereof)
- Diagnostic and follow-up letters, if a diagnosis of ADHD has previously been made
- Response to stimulant medication, if applicable, and the presence or absence of side effects or concerns about misuse or diversion
If we receive this information in your referral, we will be able to proceed quickly and without needing to reach out to your team for more information.
After diagnosis, clients will be referred back to their GP to initiate medication and provide ongoing prescriptions for several reasons:
In-person medical evaluation: Because our service is online-only, we need GPs (or nurses) to conduct any required physical examinations.
Cost-effectiveness: It's more affordable for clients to see their GP for prescriptions and for follow-up appointments, rather than a psychiatrist.
Limited psychiatric resources: Due to the limited availability of psychiatrists in New Zealand, having GPs manage the ongoing care of clients enables us to utilize the psychiatrist's expertise more resourcefully. This strategic allocation of psychiatric resources enables more patients to benefit from specialist care.
- Medication prescriptions: For certain medications, like stimulants for ADHD, GPs need special authority to prescribe. We will either apply for, or endorse application for, special authority and then ask the GP to initiate and manage medication treatment. This process ensures clients receive comprehensive primary care support, and allows us to help more clients efficiently.