Information for Patients

Last updated: 18 June 2025

A First Specialist Assessment (FSA), also referred to as an “Initial Assessment,” is your first appointment with a psychiatrist at MSQ Health.
It involves a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation — regardless of the specific concern you are seeking help for or have been referred for (e.g. ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety).
The purpose of this assessment is to develop a complete picture of your mental health. This may include discussion of your medical and psychiatric history, current concerns, medications, and relevant life circumstances.

At the conclusion of your FSA, the psychiatrist will advise on the most clinically appropriate next steps. These may include one or more of the following:

- Recommending follow-up appointment(s) for further assessments (e.g. ADHD assessment, OCD assessment, or another relevant evaluation).
- Requesting further investigations such as blood tests, ECG, or radiology to better understand your current condition.
- Discharging you back to your GP to manage your symptoms.
- Recommending counselling or therapy with a psychologist instead of further psychiatric treatment.
- Suggesting a follow-up with MSQ Health, but only after certain conditions (e.g. thyroid issues or unmanaged OCD symptoms) have been addressed. In some cases, the psychiatrist may recommend waiting 3–6 months (or longer) before booking a further appointment.
In rare cases, a treatment plan may be discussed and advised at the end of the FSA, if the psychiatrist deems it clinically appropriate.

A diagnosis or treatment plan (such as medication) is not always provided at the first appointment — further information or additional sessions may be needed.
The psychiatrist may determine that no further sessions are clinically appropriate, or that your needs are better addressed by another service. This could include, but is not limited to: the public mental health system, your GP, or a psychologist.
An FSA does not guarantee ongoing treatment with MSQ Health.

A referral is required from the GP you are currently registered with in order to proceed with an FSA/appointment at MSQ Health. Referrals from on-call or virtual GPs who do not have access to your full medical history may be declined.
GP referrals are collected as part of good clinical practice. They help ensure that your psychiatrist has access to relevant medical and medication history, and they enable us to share notes or prescriptions with your GP if needed.
Each psychiatrist retains clinical discretion to decline a referral for an FSA if they consider it clinically inappropriate. If you have already paid to secure a future appointment, your fee will be fully refunded.

The psychiatrist may request specific information — such as questionnaires, school reports, or other documentation — at their clinical discretion to support the FSA or any follow-up appointments.
This information helps the psychiatrist conduct a thorough and efficient evaluation and may also be used to corroborate the concerns you share during your assessment.

Yes, we do offer virtual consultations; however, availability is determined on a case-by-case basis.
In most cases, you will be asked to complete a brief test video call with our Receptionist to ensure that your camera, internet connection, and environment are suitable for an effective session with the psychiatrist.

Based on the psychiatrist’s evaluation, they may make a formal diagnosis, or determine that the assessment does not support a diagnosis at this time.
If time allows, they will also discuss a recommended treatment plan. This plan may or may not include a prescription.
If a prescription is indicated, the psychiatrist may require one or more follow-up phone calls before issuing it, as part of safe prescribing practice.
Due to clinical and regulatory requirements, prescriptions may be issued some time after your follow-up appointment — this can take several days or, in some cases, a few weeks.

While we aim to outline the likely process ahead of time, the number of appointments required can vary depending on each individual’s clinical needs.
In many cases, patients require at least two key appointments: an initial First Specialist Assessment (FSA) and, if further assessment is needed, a follow-up appointment (e.g. for ADHD evaluation).
If medication is prescribed, one or more follow-up phone calls are usually required as part of the treatment process.
We will do our best to explain what to expect in terms of next steps and associated fees. However, please note that final decisions — including whether further appointments are required — remain at the clinical discretion of the psychiatrist and may evolve based on what arises during your sessions.

Yes — payment is required in advance to confirm your appointment.
Psychiatry appointments involve significant time and preparation, and our psychiatrists can only see a small number of patients each day.
There is also important administrative and clinical work that takes place behind the scenes before your session.
Advance payment ensures commitment, and helps us avoid last-minute cancellations that are difficult to backfill due to the preparation involved in each booking.