Uptake is stalling for GP's wanting to diagnose ADHD.
Two months after the Government allowed GP's to assess and prescribe medication, only 180 GP's have used the new power so far.
Other doctors blame workforce shortages and inadequate funding for the stall in uptakes.
Royal NZ College of GP's President Luke Bradford told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'Patients can't afford to see it. Or the doctors can't afford to give up the time to do it.'
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now uptake is stalling for GPS wanting to diagnose ADHD.
It's over two and a half months since the government
allowed them to assess and prescribe medication, but the Royal
New Zealand College of GPS says only one hundred and
eighty thus far are keen. They're blaming work for workforce
shortages and inadequate funding. Doctor Luke Bradford is the College's
director and is with us now, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Luke, Hi, Heather, how are you doing very well?
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Thank you to the number of one eighty.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Surprise you, no, I actually think that's a reasonable number.
That's the number that's joined the special interest group. And
when you look at the increasing workforce that is in
people diagnosing ADHD, it's quite significant. I mean as seven
hundred and forty psychiatrists in the whole country, so it's
a twenty five percent increase in people looking to be involved.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So what is the problem with the inadequate funding? How
would more funding change the scenario?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think I think the two things. Firstly, in order
to do this, you either have to charge a patient
for the time and it is a two you know,
it's two hours at work, and so you're looking at
what you'd not see eight patients over that time, or
you have to subsidize the patient seeing you and therefore
not bring in the income you'd expect from those appointments.
And so what's happening is ither patients can't afford to
(01:12):
see it, or if the doctors can't afford to give
up the time to do it. So there's clear evidence
that increasing the diagnosis and adults of ADHD helps corrections,
helps MSD numbers, helps employment figures them alike. And so
it just has to be a decision in the public
as to whether or not there is a need to
fund that. If not, there will be a slow up
(01:34):
increase in diagnosis and access. And we're already seeing the
numbers increasing in the amount of stimulants prescribed since the changes,
but it won't be the revolution people want.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
But look, so, if it's going to take up the
space that eight patients would normally take, is it not
a straight equation. Why doesn't the doctor just simply go,
I need to charge you much more for this.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
They do, They do, that's the point they do. And
then but then we still have an access problem with
people can't afford.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
That, and so have those appointments not filled up.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
In terms of those doctors who are already do it.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yes, So for the doctors who are in charge charge
extra for it, are they not already mixed out with demand?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? And they're coming online. You know, it's taking a
while to get them online as they increase their skills
and do the training. So they're going through the training more,
coming online and therefore billing people as they do. But
I think a lot of the impatience from the public
is that they'd hoped it would see access and affordable access,
and we're not seeing a massive revolution in that yet.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Okay, Is this part of an ongoing campaign? Basically the
roadblocks that doctors are saying, are you know that are
the here in terms of trying to get on top
of this. Is this not part of a campaign to
just try to lift the income coming in for doctors?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
No, I mean this was this change was very much
about a roadblock in terms of access to diagnosis. People
all wait in many, many months to see psychiatrists and
struggling and then having fees which are really a lot higher.
So no, I mean, it's not all about just raising
incomfort Doctorsn't it all?
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Right?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Luke.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
As always, thank you very much for your time, mate.
Look after yourself. Doctor Ug Bradford, Director of the Royal
College of General Practitioners. It's being reported this is by
politic dot co dot m Z, the Political Nerds WD newsletter,
that officials are going to meet, apparently on Monday with
Chris Hopkins to brief him in what they are calling
a last minute attempt to convince him to please ask
(03:27):
his caucus the next day, on Tuesday, to support the
India Free Trade Agreement. Now, my prediction is they will
meet with him on Monday, he will be convinced, he
will go to his caucus on Tuesday, he will convince
his caucus, and next week label will support this. Now
the reason I say that is not because I'm soor
I don't have a crystal. I'm not nostrodamus. But when
if you remember, he was with us on Monday and
(03:49):
he lets slip that they will probably agree to it
next week. So keep an eye on it, because I
think he already gave us the indication that that's where
this little game that he's been playing ends.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
For more from Heather Dukeless d Allen Drive.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Listen live to News Talks at B from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
Now uptake is stalling for GPS wanting to diagnose ADHD.
It's over two and a half months since the government
allowed them to assess and prescribe medication, but the Royal
New Zealand College of GPS says only one hundred and
eighty thus far are keen. They're blaming work for workforce
shortages and inadequate funding. Doctor Luke Bradford is the College's
director and is with us now, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Luke, Hi, Heather, how are you doing very well?
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Thank you to the number of one eighty.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Surprise you, no, I actually think that's a reasonable number.
That's the number that's joined the special interest group. And
when you look at the increasing workforce that is in
people diagnosing ADHD, it's quite significant. I mean as seven
hundred and forty psychiatrists in the whole country, so it's
a twenty five percent increase in people looking to be involved.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So what is the problem with the inadequate funding? How
would more funding change the scenario?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think I think the two things. Firstly, in order
to do this, you either have to charge a patient
for the time and it is a two you know,
it's two hours at work, and so you're looking at
what you'd not see eight patients over that time, or
you have to subsidize the patient seeing you and therefore
not bring in the income you'd expect from those appointments.
And so what's happening is ither patients can't afford to
(01:12):
see it, or if the doctors can't afford to give
up the time to do it. So there's clear evidence
that increasing the diagnosis and adults of ADHD helps corrections,
helps MSD numbers, helps employment figures them alike. And so
it just has to be a decision in the public
as to whether or not there is a need to
fund that. If not, there will be a slow up
(01:34):
increase in diagnosis and access. And we're already seeing the
numbers increasing in the amount of stimulants prescribed since the changes,
but it won't be the revolution people want.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
But look, so, if it's going to take up the
space that eight patients would normally take, is it not
a straight equation. Why doesn't the doctor just simply go,
I need to charge you much more for this.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
They do, They do, that's the point they do. And
then but then we still have an access problem with
people can't afford.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
That, and so have those appointments not filled up.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
In terms of those doctors who are already do it.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yes, So for the doctors who are in charge charge
extra for it, are they not already mixed out with demand?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? And they're coming online. You know, it's taking a
while to get them online as they increase their skills
and do the training. So they're going through the training more,
coming online and therefore billing people as they do. But
I think a lot of the impatience from the public
is that they'd hoped it would see access and affordable access,
and we're not seeing a massive revolution in that yet.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Okay, Is this part of an ongoing campaign? Basically the
roadblocks that doctors are saying, are you know that are
the here in terms of trying to get on top
of this. Is this not part of a campaign to
just try to lift the income coming in for doctors?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
No, I mean this was this change was very much
about a roadblock in terms of access to diagnosis. People
all wait in many, many months to see psychiatrists and
struggling and then having fees which are really a lot higher.
So no, I mean, it's not all about just raising
incomfort Doctorsn't it all?
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Right?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Luke.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
As always, thank you very much for your time, mate.
Look after yourself. Doctor Ug Bradford, Director of the Royal
College of General Practitioners. It's being reported this is by
politic dot co dot m Z, the Political Nerds WD newsletter,
that officials are going to meet, apparently on Monday with
Chris Hopkins to brief him in what they are calling
a last minute attempt to convince him to please ask
(03:27):
his caucus the next day, on Tuesday, to support the
India Free Trade Agreement. Now, my prediction is they will
meet with him on Monday, he will be convinced, he
will go to his caucus on Tuesday, he will convince
his caucus, and next week label will support this. Now
the reason I say that is not because I'm soor
I don't have a crystal. I'm not nostrodamus. But when
if you remember, he was with us on Monday and
(03:49):
he lets slip that they will probably agree to it
next week. So keep an eye on it, because I
think he already gave us the indication that that's where
this little game that he's been playing ends.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
For more from Heather Dukeless d Allen Drive.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Listen live to News Talks at B from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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