Dr Meg McKeown - The ADHD GP

A short pre-booking screen checks residency and whether our telehealth ADHD service is likely to be suitable for your circumstances.
Not every request can be accepted. We review requests for clinical suitability, telehealth requirements and service capacity. A first appointment is not guaranteed and is confirmed only when we contact you to advise that your request has been accepted.  If we are unable to offer care, this is to ensure patients receive care that is safe and appropriate to their needs. We ask that this decision be respected and encourage you to work with your regular GP to identify a more suitable service or next step.

We can offer two assessment pathway options and there is also a review pathway:

• GP assessment pathway — assessment, diagnosis and any medication initiation are provided by the ADHD GP.

• Psychiatrist assessment pathway — assessment, diagnosis and medication initiation are provided by a consultant psychiatrist. Ongoing care may continue with the ADHD GP in shared care, or with your regular GP.

• Review pathway — for adults with an existing ADHD diagnosis needing to re-establish ongoing management, including after an interstate move, an expired permit, or a change in prescribing clinician.

Step 1 - Suitability screen

A short pre-booking screen checks residency and whether our telehealth ADHD service is likely to be suitable for your circumstances.
Not every request can be accepted. We review requests for clinical suitability, telehealth requirements and service capacity. A first appointment is not guaranteed and is confirmed only when we contact you to advise that your request has been accepted.  If we are unable to offer care, this is to ensure patients receive care that is safe and appropriate to their needs. We ask that this decision be respected and encourage you to work with your regular GP to identify a more suitable service or next step.

Step 2 - Initial GP consultation

If your appointment request is accepted, the first appointment covers history-taking and a discussion of your reasons for seeking assessment. At this appointment, the ADHD GP and you agree whether the GP assessment pathway is clinically appropriate, or whether referral to a consultant psychiatrist is indicated from the outset.

Step 3 - Assessment appointments (at least 2 further sessions)

Structured history, diagnostic interview, symptom rating scales, functional impact review, collateral history where available, and screening for co-occurring conditions.

If complexity emerges during these sessions — for example, co-occurring conditions that require specialist input, or a clinical picture that is not clearly ADHD alone — the pathway may change from GP assessment to psychiatrist assessment at this stage.

Step 4 - Investigations

Blood tests, blood pressure, ECG and urine drug screening where clinically indicated. Ordered by the ADHD GP.

Step 5 - Diagnostic conclusion

A follow-up appointment to communicate the diagnostic conclusion, discuss the clinical reasoning, and provide a written report.

The GP assessment pathway typically takes 6–8 weeks from the first appointment to the diagnostic follow-up.

Possible outcomes at Step 5

• A diagnosis of ADHD, with a management plan
• No diagnosis of ADHD reached, with a summary of the outcome
• A conclusion that further information is required
• A conclusion that specialist input is required, with referral to a consultant psychiatrist

A written report is provided at the conclusion of assessment.

Step 6 - Initiation of treatment (where ADHD is diagnosed)

Where ADHD is diagnosed and medication is clinically indicated, treatment is usually initiated by the ADHD GP, in line with clinical guidelines and state prescribing requirements.

A short pre-booking screen checks residency and whether our telehealth ADHD service is likely to be suitable for your circumstances.
Not every request can be accepted. We review requests for clinical suitability, telehealth requirements and service capacity. A first appointment is not guaranteed and is confirmed only when we contact you to advise that your request has been accepted.  If we are unable to offer care, this is to ensure patients receive care that is safe and appropriate to their needs. We ask that this decision be respected and encourage you to work with your regular GP to identify a more suitable service or next step.

Where psychiatrist assessment is agreed at Step 2 (see above) — or where complexity emerges later in the GP assessment pathway — a referral is made to a consultant psychiatrist for the assessment step.

The ADHD GP will refer to a psychiatrist who is appropriate to share care with. You may nominate a different psychiatrist if you prefer.

Typical wait for the psychiatrist step: 3–4 weeks.

After the psychiatrist has completed assessment ongoing care follows the same options as the GP assessment pathway with initiation of recommended treatment options or handover to the regular GP.

A short pre-booking screen checks residency and whether our telehealth ADHD service is likely to be suitable for your circumstances.
Not every request can be accepted. We review requests for clinical suitability, telehealth requirements and service capacity. A first appointment is not guaranteed and is confirmed only when we contact you to advise that your request has been accepted.  If we are unable to offer care, this is to ensure patients receive care that is safe and appropriate to their needs. We ask that this decision be respected and encourage you to work with your regular GP to identify a more suitable service or next step.

If your appointment request is accepted, the pathway follows  3–4 appointments with The ADHD GP: suitability screen, records review, baseline investigations, and a review and prescribing appointment where clinically appropriate.  Where complexity emerges in the review pathway — a referral to a psychiatrist may still be required.

A letter from the most recent prescriber (if previous ADHD scripts have been provided) is required to request assistance under the review pathway. This letter should confirm the diagnosis, summarise current or most recent treatment, and outline the reason ongoing care with a new clinician is being sought. Requests without this letter cannot be progressed to a review appointment.

State prescribing rules for ADHD medication vary across Australia. A permit or authority issued in one state does not automatically transfer to another. Previous permits, authorities and specialist letters should be provided at the first appointment.

Input from a consultant psychiatrist may be required if clinical circumstances indicate this is required for safety.

After any of the three pathways, ongoing management follows one of two options:

Ongoing care with The ADHD GP — video telehealth review appointments continue with this service. 

At minimum, reviews are every 6 months.

Return to your regular GP where it is considered safe to do so — a written handover and management plan is provided for the regular GP you nominated on your new patient form to continue prescribing and review if they choose to do so.

The arrangement is discussed with each patient individually.