Funding seems to have been renewed for a program that provides doctors with mental health advice from a psychiatrist.

The federal government may have committed to maintaining GP Psych Support, which allows GPs to refer to a psychiatrist for information for their patients.

The website for GP Psych Support is still down, and the RACGP’s message saying funding has run out remains in place.

The program has been run by the RACGP since 2006. It was due to lose funding at the end of October, with Health Minister Peter Dutton blaming the former government for allowing the money to lapse. Dutton reportedly says the system will now stay.

“This has been another legacy of the former government leaving a program without funding,” a spokesperson for Mr Dutton said.

“However, in this case I am continuing to fund this important program for another year.”

RACGP President Dr Liz Marles has praised GP Psych Support for allowing doctors access to such a valuable clinical management resource.

“GPs face great difficulty in gaining access to advice from psychiatrists and there is a very serious need for a service that supports GPs to continue their vital work in addressing community health needs,” she said.

“With over 71% of patients who have mental illness presenting first to their GP, it is essential that GPs have fast and easy access to evidence-based advice from psychiatrists.”