Hypothyroidism
Emergency referrals
Phone on call Diabetic and Endocrinology Registrar via:
- Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital switch - (07) 3646 8111
- The Prince Charles Hospital switch - (07) 3139 4000
- Redcliffe Hospital switch – (07) 3883 7777
- Caboolture Hospital switch – (07) 5433 8888
and send patient to the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) at their nearest hospital.
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- Suspected or confirmed secondary hypothyroidism (low T4 without a raised TSH)
- Pregnant
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Hypothyroidism with difficulty normalising TFTs despite thyroxine therapy
- Hypothyroidism within 12 months of delivery of a child
- Pre-pregnancy counselling
- NB Category 2 cases can be referred to local/regional general physician if endocrinologist access is not locally available
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Problems with management of primary or secondary hypothyroidism
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
- Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service
Other important information for referring practitioners
Not an exhaustive list
- No USS is required in the routine assessment of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines
- Consider other autoimmune glandular conditions if autoimmune hypothyroidism (e.g. pernicious anaemia, coeliac disease and Addison’s)
- Commence low dose thyroxine and gradually titrate over months if cardiac disease
- Usually primary hypothyroidism should be able to be managed in general practice
- Patients with positive thyroid antibodies and normal TFT do not need to be referred to an endocrine service and recommend TSH to be monitored annually
- Where indicated, cortisol must be replaced before thyroxine
- TSH cannot be used to guide replacement thyroxine therapy in patients with pituitary dysfunction. Aim to keep T4 in mid-to-upper range of normal
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.