ADHD assessments in primary care
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From 2026, GPs will have options to become ADHD assessors
Upcoming Changes to Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessments
If you’re currently being assessed for ADHD, waiting for an assessment, or considering one, there are important changes coming that you should know about.
What’s Changing?
From February 2026, some specially trained GPs will be allowed to diagnose ADHD in adults and start prescribing medication. Until then, only psychiatrists can make a diagnosis and approve medication, usually after an assessment by themselves or a psychologist.
These changes do not apply to children and youth aged 5–17—their process remains the same.
What This Means Right Now
- From December 2025, public hospital psychiatrists will stop processing new ADHD diagnoses and medication approvals.
- If you’re almost finished an assessment with a psychologist, try to complete it and see your GP for referral before the end of November.
- If you’re waiting to start an assessment, consider delaying until more details are confirmed. Even with a psychologist’s report, you may still need a GP assessment in February, which could add cost and time.
- After December, medication approval through the public health system will no longer be available.
From February 2026
- A small number of GPs who complete extensive ADHD training will be able to diagnose and start treatment.
- Assessments will still be thorough—1–2 hours of interviews over several weeks, plus input from family.
- There’s no public funding for this service. Costs are expected to be $1,000–$2,000, regardless of Community Services Card status.
- Complex cases may still need referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
- QMC is still deciding whether we can offer this service in-house or refer patients elsewhere.
QMC's Next Steps
We will be reaching out to our clinicians to identify those with a special interest in ADHD and explore pathways for further training. This will help us determine what ADHD diagnostic assessment availability we may be able to provide in the future.
Other Options
Psychiatrists will continue to diagnose and treat ADHD privately, but they often have long waitlists and high fees. You can search online for psychiatrists offering ADHD assessments and join their waitlists.
We’ll keep updating our patients as more details become available. For background information on ADHD in adults, visit HealthInfo.org.nz.
Why choose to enrol at QMC
- Our large team of doctors and nurse practitioners means high availability at short notice
- Subsidised fees for consultations in pre-booked appointments
- Discounted fees for our After Hours & Urgent Care clinic
- Children under 14 years old are entitled to free consultations
- Shorter than national average wait times in After Hours & Urgent Care
- 3 practice locations across Queenstown
Access to all 3 locations
As an enrolled patient, you can be seen at any of our three clinics located centrally in Queenstown, Jack's Point and Remarkables Park.