We’d like to share some information about upcoming changes to the process for diagnosing ADHD in adults – this is relevant to any patient who is currently being assessed for ADHD, or who is waiting for / considering having an assessment.
For some background information about ADHD in adults, see Healthinfo.org.nz
From February 2026, some General Practitioners (GPs) will be approved to make a diagnosis of ADHD in patients that they assess, and to also start prescribing medication for ADHD. Previously (and until that date) this can only be done by specialist Psychiatrists, usually after a diagnostic assessment by themselves or with a clinical psychologist +/- referral from a GP.
There is very little information yet about what the new system will look like from February 2026, or what will happen during the transition period. Our advice below relates to the information we’ve received so far. This advice does not apply to children & youth aged 5-17 (for whom the existing process isn’t changing).
From now, until February 2026
- The Christchurch public hospital psychiatrists have just advised us that from the beginning of December they will stop processing and approving requests for new ADHD diagnoses and medication endorsement.
- If you are currently undertaking and have almost completed an assessment with a Clinical Psychologist, we recommend you prioritise getting this completed and having a GP appointment for referral as soon as possible, within November.
- If you are waiting for (or just about to start) an ADHD diagnosis assessment with a Clinical Psychologist, we recommend you defer your assessment until more information is known. It is likely that even with a psychologist assessment completed, you would need to wait until February and pay more to also see an expert GP for their assessment – see below.
- We will no longer be able to arrange for Psychiatrist medication approval to happen funded through the public health system from the beginning of December.
From February 2026 – our best guess as to how the new system will work:
- Some GPs will be able to diagnose adult ADHD and approve starting ADHD medication. These will only be the small number of GPs who have capacity to undertake extensive ADHD training, usually unpaid in their evenings / weekends. They are likely to have significant waitlists to undertake these detailed assessments (while they will often also continue to manage their existing workload).
- The criteria and thoroughness of assessment will stay the same – it will still require 1-2 hours of interview & assessment time over several weeks, and include seeking information from parents and / or other family members.
- There has been no funding announced for this, and it will sit outside General Practice’s existing subsidies. The cost for GP ADHD diagnostic assessment and starting treatment is likely to be $1000 – $2000 (regardless of community services card CSC status).
- Complex cases (such as people with other pre-existing mental health conditions & substance dependance) may still require private referral to a psychologist / psychiatrist to undertake assessment and make a diagnosis & treatment plan.
- Selwyn Village Healthcare is unclear yet whether we will be able to provide this service in-house (or what the fees / waitlist might be), or whether we will refer patients to another GP clinic.
- We will no longer be able to arrange for medication approval to happen funded through the public health system.
At any stage:
- Psychiatrists (Doctors who specialise in mental health) who have expertise in ADHD will always be able to make a diagnosis and start treatment. The public system does not have the capacity to fund this service, and so must all be done in private. It can be hard to find psychiatrists who do these assessments, they often also have long waitlists and high fees.
- You can find psychiatrists online yourself who offer ADHD assessment, and enquire about joining their waitlist. We don’t have any additional tools to know who has availability.
We will try and keep our patients updated through our website as more information becomes available.
Selwyn Village Healthcare 