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\n The Victorian Government will soon allow virtual ED clinicians to issue scripts for ADHD medication, valid for between 30 days and six months.
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\n News<\/p>\n
\n Victorians can now access six months of medication without seeing their GP or psychiatrist \u2013 leaving the RACGP \u2018totally blindsided\u2019.
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\n The Victorian Government will soon allow virtual ED clinicians to issue scripts for ADHD medication, valid for between 30 days and six months.
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newsGP weekly poll
\n Victorian patients will be allowed to \u2018top up\u2019 their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication without seeing a GP or psychiatrist \u2013 a move that has left medical colleges seething.
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\nThe RACGP says it has been blindsided after the Victorian Government announced the shake up to the way the medications are dispensed, sounding the alarm on patient safety.
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\nUnder the change, patients with an existing ADHD diagnosis and treatment plan who \u2018urgently\u2019 require a new prescription and are unable to see their regular doctor can dial into the state\u2019s free Virtual Emergency Department (ED) for an online consultation.
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\nThe doctor will verify their current medication and dosage and provide clinical support, with the prescription being sent directly to their local pharmacy.
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\nIt comes just one day after the State Government expanded GPs\u2019 scope<\/a> for diagnosing and treating ADHD, with training to be rolled out by September.
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\nRACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Mu\u00f1oz said together with the state\u2019s College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), she is \u2018extremely disappointed to hear this news\u2019.
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\n\u2018We are totally blindsided. We have worked in good faith with the Government to work together to produce a framework based on safety, quality use of medicines and good clinical governance,\u2019 she told newsGP.
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\n\u2018We made that commitment … and to have the Government deliberately keep the details from us and then announce this with no warning and no consultation, is extremely disappointing.
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\n\u2018We\u2019ve not been consulted as experts about whether taking that step could lead to any harms for Victorian patients with ADHD.\u2019
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\nPremier Jacinta Allan says the one-off refill will be for at least 30 days and up to six months, allowing people \u2018a supply of medication to cover them\u2019 until they see their GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist.
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\n\u2018No adult or child with ADHD should be left without essential medication when they need it,\u2019 she said.
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\n\u2018This is about making the system work for busy Victorian families, not the other way around.\u2019
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\nBut Dr Mu\u00f1oz argues this decision opens a raft of concerns.
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\n\u2018We have a Government that says for GPs to independently prescribe ADHD medications, they need to undertake arduous training, and yet 24 hours later, they are saying for a Virtual ED clinician, no training is required,\u2019 she said.
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\n\u2018I cannot see how in a single phone call, a Virtual ED clinician is able to conduct the necessary physical assessment, including blood pressure, heart rate, and weight, and also conduct the appropriate mental health examination that is required.\u2019
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\n\u2018The Government is basically suggesting to ADHD patients, \u201cYou can get your script anywhere\u201d, and continuity of care is not important.\u2019
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\nUnder the new plan, Victorian ADHD patients can \u2018urgently replace a lost,\u00a0expired\u00a0or depleted prescription\u2019.
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\nBut with existing issues<\/a> of pharmaceutical drug diversion into the black market being sold and used inappropriately, Dr Mu\u00f1oz warns the Government is sending the wrong message to the public.
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\n\u2018Now we have the Premier saying, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, if you lose a script, the state will make sure that you get a new supply\u201d,\u2019 she said.
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\n\u2018And \u201cIf your script has expired or you\u2019ve run out of medications, you do not need to bother with the appropriate checks and balances to ensure these medications are being used safely and are not causing you harm\u201d.\u2019
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\nThe Victorian Virtual ED<\/a> states its services are for \u2018non-life-threatening urgent care\u2019 and not for routine care or chronic condition care.
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\nWith the State Premier now announcing the service can be used for routine scripts and routine care, Dr Mu\u00f1oz is concerned it will confuse the public.
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\n\u2018A decision has been made where there\u2019s not been any opportunity to explore whether this could cause harm, or if there are going to be unintended consequences,\u2019 she said.
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\n\u2018Now we\u2019re potentially also going to see the public asking themselves, why can\u2019t they get other scripts from what\u2019s essentially an emergency service?
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\n\u2018We have spent years trying to educate the Victorian community that emergency services are for emergencies only, so the fact the Government didn\u2019t consult us, suggests they wanted to avoid hearing our expert opinion on the potential harms of this policy.\u2019
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\nRANZCP Victorian Branch Chair Associate Professor Simon Stafrace said that without strong safeguards, the new model risks fragmenting care, inappropriate prescribing, and unmonitored side effects.
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\n\u2018We know accessing ADHD care is hard for many Victorians,\u2019 he said.
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\n\u2018But the answer is making sure people can see psychiatrists, paediatricians and GPs, and building specialist ADHD care capacity and accountability within the public health system.\u2019
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\n\u2018We\u2019re calling on the Government to work with RANZCP, RACGP and other stakeholders to create safe pathways so people with ADHD get treated by someone they trust, someone who knows them and their health.\u2019
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\n ADHD<\/a> attention deficit hyperactivity disorder<\/a> medicine safety<\/a> quality care<\/a> Victorian Government<\/a> virtual ED<\/a>
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