Gastroenterology

Conditions

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all conditions for outpatient services and does not exclude consideration for referral unless specifically stipulated in the out of scope section.

Paediatric services

Referrals for children and young people should follow the Children’s Health Queensland referral guidelines.

If any of the following are present or suspected arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department.

• Potentially life threatening symptoms suggestive of:
  • acute upper GI tract bleeding
  • acute severe lower GI tract bleeding
  • oesophageal foreign bodies/food bolus
  • fulminant colitis
  • bowel obstruction
  • abdominal sepsis
• Severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea with dehydration
• Acute/fulminant liver failure (to be referred to a centre with dedicated hepatology services)
• Biliary sepsis (to be referred to a centre with ERCP service)

*Acute severe colitis as defined by the Truelove and Witts criteria – all patients with ≥ 6 bloody bowel motions per 24 hours plus at least one of the following:

• temperature at presentation of > 37.8°C
• pulse rate at presentation of > 90 bpm
• haemoglobin at presentation of < 105 gm/l, CRP >30mg/dl at presentation (or ESR > 30 mm/hr)

Out of scope services

Not all services are funded in the Queensland public health system. The following are not routinely provided in a public Gastroenterology outpatient service.

• Screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic patients outside of the NHMRC guidelines

NB: If a patient who has been fully investigated 2 years prior to referral.  Then the referrer and the receiving clinician will need to exercise clinical decision making in triaging and or value in repeat endoscopy / colonoscopy procedures

Patient information videos

We have prepared a set of colonoscopy and endoscopy educational videos to assist patients to learn more about the procedures.

What is a colonoscopy?

This video explains what a colonoscopy is and what is involved. Patients tell their story about preparing for the procedure and their time in hospital.

Watch the video

Preparing for your colonoscopy

We talk you through the process of preparing for your examination and what you need to know for your shopping list, including the things you can and can’t eat and drink in the lead up to your procedure.

Watch the video

Preparing for your endoscopy

Hear from patients who are having endoscopies about what it’s like and how they feel.

Watch the video

What might be found?

We explain what we will look for during your procedure and what happens if we find anything that needs treatment.

Watch the video

Understanding consent

Consent is important whether you are having an examination or an operation. We go through what you need know about the consent process.

Watch the video

About your procedure

A message for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people
We have people on our team to make sure that you feel safe and comfortable when you visit hospital.

Watch the video

Specialists list