Pre-operative medical assessment
Emergency referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Registrar to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment. Contact through:
- Caboolture Hospital (07) 5433 8888
- Redcliffe Hospital (07) 3883 7777
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111
- The Prince Charles Hospital (07) 3139 4000
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
- 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
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- 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)
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
- Refer to Guidelines regarding pre-operative cardiac assessment
- Consider referral to a dietitian if the patient’s nutritional status impacts on surge
- Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management information if available
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.