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R E S P I R AT O R Y M E D I C I N E
National Referral Guidelines
Category Definitions : These are recommended guidelines for health professionals referring patients for assessments/treatment in a HHS.
1. Urgent
2. Semi - Urgent
- within 2 to 6 weeks
3. Routine
- within 2 to 12 weeks
Immediate and Urgent cases must be discussed with the Specialist or Registrar in order to get appropriate prioritisation and then a referral
letter sent with the patient, faxed or e-mailed. The times to assessment may vary depending on size and staffing of the hospital department.
Note : These guidelines are provided as both symptom and diagnosis based. Where the diagnosis
is not known then the symptom based referral guidelines should be used.
Information Required
Referral Guidelines
Category
1.
Urgent
3.
Routine
Recurrent symptoms
despite standard
treatment
2.
Semi-Urgent
1.
Urgent/Semi-Urgent
Bronchiectasis
2.
Semi-Urgent/Routine
COPD
1.
Urgent
3.
Routine
1.
Urgent/Semi-Urgent
Optimising management
Pulmonary function testing
Nutritional advice
Physiotherapy assessment
Rehabilitation
Oxygen therapy assesment
Version 1 Respiratory Referral Guidelines and Priorisation Criteria Date: 24/10/2000 Authorised: Elective Services, HFA
PAGE 2
Information Required
Referral Guidelines
Category
2.
Semi-Urgent/Routine
Pleural effusion
Consider non-pulmonary
causes, eg. heart failure.
Refer all cases for assessment
if likely to be a pulmonary
problem
1.
Urgent/Semi-Urgent
Pneumonia
Refer if:
Diagnosis uncertain
Poor response to standard
therapy
Significant co-morbidities and
poor social circumstances
Persistent xray changes
following treatment
2.
Semi-Urgent
1.
Urgent
Pneumothorax
1.
Urgent
1.
Urgent
Pulmonary embolism
1.
Urgent
Pulmonary nodules
1.
Urgent/Semi-Urgent
Sarcoidosis
1.
Urgent/Semi-Urgent/
1.
Tuberculosis
Routine
Urgent/Semi-Urgent
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R E S P I R AT O R Y M E D I C I N E
National Referral Guidelines
NATIONAL REFERRAL GUIDELINES : RESPIRATORY MEDICINE SYMPTOM BASED
Respiratory Systems
Evaluation
Possible Diagnosis
Bronchial carcinoma.
Pleural effusion.
Bronchiectasis
Tuberculosis
Haemoptysis
Chronic Respiratory
Symptoms
Version 1 Respiratory Referral Guidelines and Priorisation Criteria Date: 24/10/2000 Authorised: Elective Services, HFA