Mater Private Specialist Quick Find

General Medicine – public patients 

Clinical Lead - Dr Margaret Shaw

Catchment criteria applies for referrals for this service. Patient referrals from outside the Mater SEQ Catchment (which includes Metro South and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services) may not be accepted.

Purpose

This page contains information for general practitioners on how to refer patients aged 16 years and over to General Medicine srvices at Mater Hospital Brisbane

Catchment criteria may apply for referrals for this service. Patient referrals from outside the Mater SEQ Catchment (which includes Metro South and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services) may not be accepted.
 
Exception: Mater Adolescent and Young Adult General Medicine supports the provision of General Medicine care across Queensland. As part of this service, referrals for Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine will be accepted.

How to send a referral

 

Emergency 

If any of the following are present or suspected, phone 000 to arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department or seek emergency medical advice if in a remote region:

 

View list of conditions:

Anaemia 

  • Severe anaemia (Hb <80gm/l) with risk of cardiovascular and/or syncopal collapse
  • Anaemia associated with definite clinical features of overt gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Severe cytopaenias if patient is unwell (ie infection, symptomatic anaemia, active bleeding)
  • Neutrophils < 0.5x109/L
  • Haemoglobin < 80g/L
  • Platelets < 20x109/L 

Cognitive impairment and dementia 

  • Very rapid onset of cognitive +/- other neurological symptoms 
  • Suspected delirium deemed unsafe to manage in the community by the treating medical practitioner
  • Imminent safety risk to self or others

 

Complex paediatric patients transitioning to adult services

  • Any sudden decompensation in clinical condition that carries risk of death or serious adverse events

Complex or undifferentiated medical problems 

  • Any sudden decompensation in clinical condition that carries risk of death or serious adverse events
  • Pyrexia of unknown origin with temp ≥ 39ºC
  • Pyrexia with neutropaenia
  • Delirium
  • Suspected systemic vasculitis associated with symptoms, signs or investigation results suggestive of vital organ involvement
  • Suspected temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) with markedly elevated ESR (>100) and/or jaw claudication and/or visual disturbance

Falls

  • Any fall occasioning serious trauma (including fractures, major soft tissue injury, head strike or concussion) that cannot be managed in primary care.
  • Frequent falls (more than one every few days)

Medication review / poly-pharmacy

  • Anaphylactic or other serious adverse drug event
  • Markedly prolonged heart rate adjusted QT interval which may herald pro-arrhythmic event
  • Marked drug induced electrolyte abnormality (Na <120, K <3.0 or >6.0, Ca >3.0, Mg <0.4)

Osteoarthritis, gout and joint pain

  • Acute non-traumatic monoarthritis causing severe pain and/or incapacitating loss of function and/or marked constitutional symptoms
  • Suspected septic arthritis

States of altered neurological function 

  • Witnessed tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures
  • Suspected transient ischaemic attack or stroke on the basis of focal neurological deficits
  • Delirium or acute confusional state
  • Severe headache or altered level of consciousness with sudden onset

Syncope / pre-syncope

  • Syncope / pre-syncope with any of the following Red flags
    • exertional onset
    • chest pain
    • persistent symptomatic hypotension (systolic BP < 90mmHg)
    • severe persistent headache
    • focal neurological deficits
    • preceded by palpitations
    • associated significant physical injury (e.g. fractures, extreme soft tissue trauma, intracranial bleeds) or causing motor vehicle accident
    • family history of sudden cardiac death

Unintentional weight loss

  • Associated severe electrolyte abnormalities (K+ <3.0 mmol/l, corrected Ca+ <1.6 or >3.0 mmol/l, Mg+ <0.4 mmol/l, PO4- <0.4mmol/l) 
  • Vomiting, dysphagia or odynophagia suggesting oesophageal or gastric outlet obstruction
  • Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism with risk of thyroid storm

Wounds of uncertain cause or non-healing ulcers

  • Severe cellulitis with ongoing or worsening systemic symptoms or fevers despite oral antibiotics for 48 hours
  • Foot ulcer in diabetic patient that is not responding to oral antibiotics and regular wound cleaning
  • Any infected ulcer associated with systemic inflammatory response symptoms (SIRS) or excessive pain or features suggestive of abscess formation, osteomyelitis or deep tissue infection (necrotising fasciitis)
  • Acute Charcot arthropathy
  • Ulcers or wounds in a limb with markedly compromised circulation 

Other 

  • Any condition defined by other state-wide referral guidelines as requiring referral to emergency 

 

Scope of Service

Conditions out of scope

The following conditions are not routinely provided at Mater Hospital Brisbane:

 

View list of conditions:

  • Clearly evident mental health disorders requiring psychiatric consultation
  • Genetic testing / counselling
  • Requests for respite care, ACAT assessments or other forms of assessment or supportive care in the presence of established diagnoses and management plans, or where patients with established mental capacity to make decisions refuse such  assessments or care
  • Reviews relating to workers’ compensation claims, NDIS eligibility, disability pensions, driving license renewals, or other legal and administrative procedures
  • Reviews relating to drug withdrawal or detoxification 
  • Cognitive impairment and dementia
  • Outpatient follow-up of adults for acquired brain injury or neuro developmental disorder 
  • Presentations that would be more appropriately assessed and managed by specialist mental health services e.g. where a primary psychiatric diagnosis (e.g. major depression, generalised anxiety disorder, schizophrenia) is the most likely cause of the patient’s presenting symptoms  Assessments of financial and testamentary capacity
  • Formal occupational therapy driving assessments

 

Conditions in scope

Anaemia

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Details of relevant signs and symptoms
  • Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
  • Relevant medical history, co-morbidities and medications
  • Duration of anaemia (if known)
  • Medication history (especially NSAIDS, aspirin, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants)
  • FBC, ELFT, ESR, TSH, iron studies, vitamin B12, folate results

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Serial FBC results (if available)
  • History of alcohol and drug use
  • History of menorrhagia
  • CRP, Coombs test or haptoglobin results

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • If dietary cause suspected, modify diet and/or refer to a dietitian
  • If appropriate, treat with supplements (eg iron, vitamin B12, folate)
  • Cease any aggravating medications if possible (eg NSAIDS)
  • Referrals for Iron Deficiency shold be directed to the Mater Gastroenterology Service .

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Symptomatic anaemia (Hb<80gm/L) with no high risk features

Anaemia associated with suspected malignancy (e.g. weight loss, fever/night sweats, bone pain) 

Persistent unexplained mild to moderate anaemia (Hb 80-110mg/l)

Anaemia refractory to iron or B12/folate supplementation 

No Category 3 criteria

 

Complex paediatric patients transitioning to adult services

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities and medications (and assessment of adherence), including previous discharge summaries or outpatient letters from treating paediatric service
  • Details of all treatments previously offered and assessments of efficacy
  • A clear indication of clinical issues that the specialist is required to address
  • Details of any functional decline or cognitive impairment

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Existing psychosocial issues and supports
  • Patient or carer support services – eg disability or carer pensions, services provided by Disability Services Queensland, National Disability Insurance Scheme, or other support agencies and consumer groups
  • CXR report
  • ECG
  • FBC and ELFt results (labratory results should be limited and dependent on the history and examination) 

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • The Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane aligns existing services as well as establishes new dedicated specialised services and environments for people predominately aged 16 to 25. It delivers the highest standards of clinical care and provides programs for adolescents and young adults to address their emotional, social and educational needs. The centre cares for patients with acute presentations including injuries and surgical conditions along with chronic and complex health conditions.
  • Patients with cystic fibrosis should be managed by statewide cystic fibrosis services where possible.
  • Ensure that patients with conditions for which patient support groups exist that those patients in need of simple advice or support are familiarised with these groups.

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Potentially unstable congenital disorders or diseases acquired in childhood or adolescence that previously required ongoing review and management 

Stable congenital disorders or diseases acquired in childhood or adolescence that previously required ongoing review and management 

No category 3 criteria

 

Complex or undifferentiated medical problems

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities and medications
  • Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
  • A clear indication of clinical question that the specialist is required to address
  • Details of any functional decline or cognitive impairment
  • FBC, ELFT, ESR and TSH results

In cases of suspected malignancy, pyrexia of unknown origin or generalised lymphadenopathy, also include:

  • CT scan chest/abdomen/pelvis
  • ANA plus full antibody profile if ANA > 1/640
  • Serum protein electrophoresis

In cases of myalgia / arthralgia, also include:

  • CPK results
  • ANA plus full antibody profile if ANA > 1/640

In cases of poorly controlled diabetes, also include:

  •  HbA1c

In cases of suspected rheumatological or systemic inflammatory conditions, also include:

  • CRP, Rh factor and ANA results

In cases of suspected or known cardiorespiratory disease, also include:

  • CXR

In cases of unexplained fatigue of recent onset, also include:

  • Impact on daily life and work (including falling asleep while driving) 
  • CXR
  • Urinalysis results
  • Calcium, ESP / CRP, iron studies, TSH, CPK (if muscle weakness or pain), vitamin B12 and folate results 

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Existing psychosocial issues and supports
  • Copies of discharge summaries and outpatient letters relating to encounters with other specialists
  • ECG
  • BNP (if available)
  • Magnesium and phosphate results (if approprite) 
  • Documentation relating to past hospitalisations and clinic visits for anxiety / depression (if appropriate)
  • Background information on occupational history and past infectious diseases (if appropriate) 

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • Laboratory tests should be limited and dependent on the history and examination
  • Available depression tools include
    • PHQ-2 - 2 question screening tool
    • K 10 - 10 question screening tool
  • Consider referral to dietitian if significant weight loss reported.

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Unstable co-morbidities which require early medical intervention to prevent further deterioration that may result in emergency hospitalisation

Recent discharge from hospital  or emergency department (<4 weeks) and need for ongoing surveillance and optimisation of co-morbidities

Acute exacerbation of chronic medical condition which impacts on other co-morbidities and requires close monitoring

Rapidly progressive or recent onset of undifferentiated syndromes (eg pyrexia [T<39°C] of unknown origin, marked decline in cognitive function, generalised sub-acute myalgia/arthralgia or other undifferentiated rheumatic syndromes, generalised lymphadenopathy) for which definitive diagnosis and/or management plan is required

Fatigue lasting more than 3 months with any of the following :

  • significant weight loss (≥5% body weight in previous 6 months)
  • recent and/or progressive onset in previously well, older patient
  • dyspnoea or other features suggestive of cardiorespiratory compromise
  • unexplained lymphadenopathy
  • presence of fever 

Stable comorbidities that require risk assessment and medical optimisation

Stable or slowly progressive undifferentiated syndromes (eg fatigue, decline in cognitive function, generalised lymphadenopathy) for which definitive diagnosis and/or management plan is required

Chronic symptoms (eg dyspnoea, dizziness, imbalance) or condition requiring investigations and management to minimise long term impairment

Chronic symptoms causing significant social/economic/functional impairment

Diagnostic dilemmas requiring further investigation or confirmation

Connective tissue disease which is active but no life threatening

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)

Multiple comorbidities in need of regular review where referral to two or more specialty clinics imposes an unacceptable burden on patients

Soft tissue rheumatism

Non-progressive fatigue lasting longer than 3 months that reminas unexplained despite detailed investigation

 

Falls

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities and medications (including an assessment of adherence) 
  • Number of falls in the previous 12 months
  • Assessment of cognitive function (MMSE or MOCA or other validated tool) in patients ≥ 65 years of age
  • Chronological profile of the impact of symptoms on ability to function
  • FBC and ElFT results
  • MSU results 

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Existing psychosocial supports (family, carers, home services, etc)
  • Copies of discharge summaries and outpatient letters relating to hospitalisations for falls, or visits to fall clinics, or home assessments for falls risk
  • Bone mineral densitometry report, vitamin D assay (if performed)
  • Home medications review report if available

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • A history of falls in the past year is the single most important risk factor for falls and is a predictor for further falls
  • Older people reporting a fall or considered at risk of falling should be observed for balance and gait deficits.  They should be considered for interventions that improve strength and balance
  • Consider referral to clinical pharmacist for Home medication Review if evidence of polypharmacy 
  • Consider referral to specialist falls clinic (if available) if patient has suffered multiple falls with no casue found
  • Depending on specialist availability, patients with falls can be referred to either general mediciine or geriatric medicine. In the setting of multiple geriatric syndromes, referral to geriatric medicine may be preferred 
  • The following links to cognitive assessment tools may be useful:
  • General screening information
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA)
  • GP assessment of cognition (GPCOG) tool
  • Standardised mini-mental state examination (MMSE)
  • Evidence for fall prevention strategies:
  • exercise
  • high dose vitamin D
  • psychoactive medication withdrawal (particularly antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines)
  • occupational therapy home visit
  • restricted multifocal spectacle use
  • expedited cataract surgery (where required)
  • podiatry intervention
  • multifactorial assessment with targeted interventions (including referral to physiotherapist and/or dietitian as appropriate)

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Two or more falls in the previous month

 

 

Two or more falls in previous 12 months

Falls as part of an overall decline in physical, social or psychological function

No categoery 3 criteria

 

Medication review / poly-pharmacy

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history and comorbidities 
  • Full list of medications including over the counter medications and complementary medicines, and indications for each one
  • Past history of drug allergies or adverse reactions or medication-related hospitalisations
  • History of attempts to wean or cease specific medications
  • Details of any home medications review undertaken by pharmacists
  • FBC, U&E, creatinine and LFT results 

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • List of all other doctors (specialists, GPs) who prescribe drugs for the patient, and their contact details
  • Contact details for patient’s regular community pharmacist

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Suspected drug-induced syndromes (falls, confusion, bowel or bladder dysfunction, fatigue)

Suspected drug-drug or drug-disease interaction of clinical significance

Recent medication-related hospitalisation 

Hyperpolypharmacy (≥10 regularly prescribed drugs) where guidance regading medication management may be of benefit 

Chemical or drug toxicity of a chronic nature

Medications where potential for harm potentially outweigh potential benefits in older patients

Polypharmacy (≥5 regularly prescribed drugs) where guidance regadring medication management may be of benefit 

No category 3 criteria 

 

Osteoarthritis, Gout and Joint Pain

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities and medications
  • Description of joints affected (swelling, pain, morning stiffness)
  • Details of treatments offered and assessments of efficacy
  • Interference with activities of daily living and working ability
  • FBC, ELFT, ESR, Urea, creatinine 

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Imaging of joints (XR / CT / MRI results) 
  • Urinalysis results
  • If suspected inflammatory or crystal arthopathy include ESR / CRP, uric acid, rheumatoid factor, anti CCP and ANA results 

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • If appropriate, encourage weight loss and regular exercise.

  • For management of gout:

    • consider NSAIDs or colchicine for acute symptoms

    • consider prophylaxis with allopurinol or probenecid (caution with slow up-titration in CKD and close monitoring)

    • dietary modification (particularly alcohol intake)

    • modify medications that may contribute to gout where possible (eg. thiazide diuretics)

    • increase fluid intake

    • consider referral to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist for functional assessment.

 Please note that CPCs have been developed Knee pain (acute) and Knee pain (chronic) by Orthopaedics.

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Acute Inflammatory Arthritis

Early or stable inflammatory arthritis 

Poly arthritis with functional impairment

Recurrent gout despite treatment with any of the following

  • maximum tolerated allopurinal dose 
  • progressive joint damage despite therapy
  • allopurinal intolerance 

Chronic tophaceaous gout 

Complex osteoarthritis 

Functional impairment and / or joint pain persists despite optimal management such as physiotherapy, weight loss and analgesics 

 

Pre-operative medical assessment (INTERNAL ONLY)

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history (including past surgical history), comorbidities and medications
  • Details about planned procedure, surgeon, and informed consent  procedure
  • Usual exercise tolerance and level of physical activity
  • ECG (for patients with past cardiac history or multiple cardiac risk factors)
  • Bedside spirometry (for current smokers and patients with known COPD)
  • Results of any past echocardiograph (in patients with known heart disease)
  • INR levels (for patients receiving warfarin)
  • FBC, ELFT (for high risk patients or patients undergoing moderate to high risk surgery, or known renal or liver disease)

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Copies of correspondence received from surgeons, anaesthetists
  • Scheduled date of surgery (if known)
  • Nutritional status / report from dietitian review (where appropriate)
  • Pre-operative functional status and any other psychosocial factors that identify the patient as potentially requiring increased care needs at home at the time of discharge following the operation

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

High risk surgery (eg vascular surgery, major intra-cavity surgery, neurosurgery)

High risk clinical factors (eg known cardiac or respiratory disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, neurological diseases, malnutrition)

Urgent or semi-urgent (Category 1 or 2) surgery

Older age (>70 years) and/or frailty

Past anaesthetic or peri-operative complications 

Receiving anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents

Moderate risk surgery (eg amputation, orthopaedic surgery, head and neck surgery, major breast and plastic surgery)

Moderate risk patient (eg hypertension, obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea)

No Category 3 criteria 

 

States of altered neurological function

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical and psychiatric history, comorbidities and medications
  • Details of treatments offered and efficacy
  • FBC & ELFT results
  • ECG

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Psychosocial supports
  • Work or life stressors, sleep deprivation
  • Results of previous EEG, CT or MRI-head, carotid arterial duplex scan (if performed)
  • Results of audiometry (if associated hearing loss)

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • Patients with known epilepsy that present with single seizures do not necessarily require a specialist referral if there are no injuries, focal neurological symptoms or signs or any other new concerns such as non-compliance with medications or avoidance of triggers.

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Frequent episodes (more than once a week) of dizziness (not vertigo), imbalance, tinnitus, dissociative state

Recurrent episodes (between 2 to 4 per month) of dizziness (not vertigo), imbalance,  dissociative state

Intermittent episodes of altered neurological function averaging no more than once a month

 

Syncope / pre-syncope

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities and medications
  • Details of clinical presentation
  • include timeline since onset of symptoms
  • precipitating factors
  • any warning pre-syncopal symptoms
  • loss of consciousness (complete vs partial; duration; nature of recovery)
  • witnessed signs (including seizures, pallor, incontinence, cyanosis, irregular or absent pulse during attack, associated injury)
  • Lying and standing BP
  • Drug and alcohol history
  • FBC, ELFT, TSH results
  • ECG

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Any investigations relevant to comorbidities (eg HbA1c if diabetic, spirometry  if COPD)
  • EEG results (if available)
  • Holter monitor or event monitor results (if available)
  • Echocardiogram results (if available)

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • If syncope thought likely to be of cardiac origin, please refer to Mater Cardiology Services
  • If possible please identify an eye witness to any episode of syncope and request that the witness attends the specialist outpatient appointment with the patient.

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Syncope with unclear aetiology

Vasovagal syncope occurring on a weekly basis

Syncopal episodes that have resulted in physical injury (but not so severe as to warrant ED presentation)

Symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (of more than 20mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure)           

Vasovagal syncope occurring on less than weekly basis but at least once a month

Asymptomatic orthostatic hypotension      

Vasovagal syncope occurring infrequently (less than once a month)         

 

Unintentional Weight Loss

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history and comorbidities
  • Full list of current medications including non-prescription medications
  • Weight, height and BMI
  • Exact weight loss and time period of loss
  • Any associated symptoms (e.g. cough, abdominal pain, change in bowel habits)
  • Alcohol and drug history (including smoking)
  • Assessment of mood and social situation (depression is a common cause of weight loss)
  • Appetite, recent dietary changes, food intolerances or avoidances, and abnormal eating behaviours
  • FBC, ELFT, ESR/CRP, TSH, iron studies, vitamin B12 & folate results
  • Antitransglutaminase antibodies, IgA for coeliac disease in younger patients (aged < 40 years old) with associated iron deficiency

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • HbA1c results (if diabetic)
  • CXR report (if indicated)
  • Food intolerances or avoidances and abnormal eating behaviours
  • Gastrointestinal or oral symptoms especially dysphagia, diarrhoea, gum disease, poor dentition, loss of taste

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Significant weight loss (≥10% of body weight in previous 6 months) without anaemia *

Clinical features or test results suggestive of disseminated malignancy

Marked cachexia or malnutrition (BMI <15) *

Suspected malabsorption syndromes

Post-prandial angina

Uncontrolled anxiety or depression or pain syndromes causing marked loss of appetite

 

* Suspected or confirmed eating disorders should be managed in accordance with the Queensland Eating Disorder Service A guide to admission and inpatient treatment for people with eating disorders in Queensland       

Unexplained weight loss (5-10% of body weight in previous 6 months)* 

 

* Suspected or confirmed eating disorders should be managed in accordance with the Queensland Eating Disorder Service A guide to admission and inpatient treatment for people with eating disorders in Queensland    

no Category 3 criteria 

 

Wounds of uncertain cause or non-healing ulcers

Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)

  • General Referral Information
  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities (particularly diabetes, neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, cognitive impairment, drug abuse, mental health problems) and medications
  • Wound history
    • Duration
    • Description and size
    • Wound initiating event
    • Presence of peripheral pulses if limb wound
  • Investigations (if performed)
    • Any biopsies of the wound
    • For leg ulcers include
      • Arterial studies / Ankle Brachial Pressure index
      • Venous incompetence studies (note NOT venous ultrasound for acute DVT)
  • Treatment history – including
    • Wound care provided to date (including antibiotics, topical ointments etc)
    • Service provider (i.e. GP, practice nurse or domiciliary nursing service
  • FBC, ELFT, U&E, creatinine 

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Residential status (lives alone, support networks, etc.) 
  • Access to wound care services, domicillary nursing
  • Smoking status
  • Nutritional status / dietary intake / serum albumin
  • HbA1C / blood sugar (if patient has diabetes) 

Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)

  • The Mater Hospital Brisbane offers a Multidisciplinary High Risk Foot Service for patients with diabetes who have foot and ankle wounds. Please refer to their page for referral guidelines and naming specialist. 

Categorisation

Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.

Category 1 – urgent

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days

Category 2 - Priority

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days

Category 3 - Routine

Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days

Wound or ulcer of uncertain aetiology that is progressing in size despite adequate dressings and leg elevation

Uncomplicated foot ulcer in diabete patient of recent onset 

Suspected malignant ulcer

Acute onset varicose or arterial aulcer

Acute onset ulcer in patients recieving high dose steroids or immunosupressive agents

Subacute or chronic ulcer of uncertain aetiology that is not responding to appropriate treatment

No Category 3 criteria 

 

 

Bulk Billed Clinics 

Mater Health offers patients the opportunity to attend bulk billed clinics. To provide your patient with the opportunity to attend a bulk billed clinic, please provide a named referral to one of the specialists listed above.

Contact Us 

If you would like to discuss a referral, including clinical criteria, or update the status of a current patient please contact our priority GP phone line on 07 3163 2200 

Current Waiting Time for Appointments 

We provide up to date data on how long patients are waiting for their first appointment by specialty here.

Referral Guideline Development:

These Mater Referral Guidelines have been developed locally by GPs and specialists to support safe and quality referral to publicly funded specialist outpatient services.

Content last reviewed: 12 February 2024

 

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