ADHD and Waikato Pinnacle primary mental health services

Pinnacle primary mental health (PMH) services, like those in general practice, have not been commissioned, contracted, or funded to support adult ADHD screening, assessment, medication initiation, or ongoing care.

Referrals to PMH for ADHD diagnosis or pathway-driven assessment are inappropriate and are likely to be declined or redirected.

We understand some providers are referring adult ADHD patients to Pinnacle services. While we will provide what support we can, our capacity in this area is limited.

New rules for prescribing ADHD medications came into effect on 1 February 2026.

Key points for prescribers in Waikato:

• The community liaison psychiatrist continues to provide advice to GPs and NPs who are prescribing ADHD medication.
• Ongoing prescribers may now use their own clinical judgement to adjust dose or change medication (e.g. methylphenidate to dexamfetamine) without specialist consultation, provided the original specialist recommendation did not specify prescribing limits.
• The community liaison psychiatrist can advise all prescribers on re-initiating stimulants where a patient has a confirmed historical ADHD diagnosis and rationale for stimulant use can be provided.

The community liaison psychiatrist does not see patients for assessment. Vocationally registered GPs and NPs who have completed appropriate ADHD assessment training may consult the liaison psychiatrist for diagnostic and management advice on patients they have assessed. The psychiatrist is not able to endorse or certify new ADHD diagnoses by non-vocationally registered or untrained clinicians, or where a comprehensive assessment has not been completed.

We are working on further support for providers in this space. If you're interested in joining our ADHD provider peer group, please get in touch with Jo Scott-Jones, details below.