12-month prescriptions and ADHD diagnosis

From the 1st of February 2026, two important changes are taking place in Primary Care. You can read more about the changes below.

1)     12-month prescriptions

2)     ADHD diagnosis

12-Month prescriptions

Some patients may be able to receive prescriptions that last for up to 12 months. This can make managing long-term, stable conditions more convenient and reduce the need for frequent prescription requests. For some people a 3 or 6 month prescription will be more appropriate. For 12-month prescriptions a dedicated annual medication review appointment will be a requirement.

You may be eligible if:

• your condition and medication dose have been stable for at least 6 months

• you do not need regular monitoring, such as blood tests or blood-pressure checks

• your medication is approved for 12-month prescribing.

How dispensing works

Even with a 12-month prescription, pharmacies can only dispense up to 3 months of medication at a time. You will receive repeats at the pharmacy, rather than a full 12-month supply all at once.

What’s not included?

Some prescriptions are not eligible for 12-month prescribing, including:

• controlled medications, such as opioids or stimulants

• medicines taken only as needed

• medications that require ongoing monitoring

• prescriptions where your condition or medication dose has changed recently.

When shorter prescriptions are needed

For safety reasons, a shorter prescription may be recommended if:

• your condition is new, unstable, or changing

• your medication needs monitoring more often than every 12 months

• you are taking multiple medications

• there is a higher risk of side effects or complications.

Your clinician will always consider what is safest and most appropriate for you. If you’re unsure whether a 12-month prescription is right for you, please ask your doctor or nurse at your next appointment. We will continue to provide updates on our website as this new prescribing initiative is rolled out over the next few months.

ADHD Assessments

The requirement that an ADHD diagnosis can only be made by a specialist psychiatrist will be removed from February 2026. However, due to the considerable expert knowledge and training required to safely diagnose and treat ADHD, Willis Medical will not be currently offering this service.  Further updates will be provided over the course of the year.  Please note we will continue to refer people to appropriate providers for assessment and can continue to prescribe ongoing ADHD medication.