Dysphonia
Emergency referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call ENT Registrar. Contact through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111 to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment.
Urgent cases accepted via phone must be accompanied with a written referral and a copy faxed immediately to the Central Patient Intake Unit: 1300 364 952.
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
- Persistent hoarseness or change in voice quality which fails to resolve in 4 weeks and any of the following:
- history of smoking
- excessive alcohol intake
- recent intubation
- recent cardiac
- thyroid surgery
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Recurrent episodes of hoarseness, altered voice in patient with no other risk factors for malignancy
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- No category 3 criteria
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
- Diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux, hypothyroidism, oropharyngeal tumours, lung lesion, recurrent laryngeal nerve damage or chronic rhinosinusitis if indicated
- CXR
- speech pathology assessment if concern about voice quality
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.