Physical finding of concern <1 year
Emergency referrals
If any of the following are present or suspected, phone 000 to arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
It is proposed that the following conditions should be sent directly to emergency. This is not a list of all conditions that should be sent to the emergency department, it is intended as guidance for presentations that may otherwise have been directed to general paediatric outpatients:
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
- Skin haemangioma of concern on head or neck or large haemangioma in any location
- Small or large head or rapidly growing head circumference in infant < 6 months
- Significant or rapidly progressing plagiocephaly or other cranial asymmetry
- Neck mass or lump
- Eye abnormality (colobomas, abnormal fixation or pupil appearance)
- Any abdominal organomegaly
- Growth asymmetry (hemihypertrophy or limb inequality)
- Most physical findings of concern in an infant < 1 year that are not otherwise listed as a category 2
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Finding likely to be of cosmetic significance only
- Umbilical hernia
- Intermittent PV blood spotting in an infant
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
- Most general paediatricians will not perform frenulotomies for tongue tie in infants. Check with your local hospital general paediatric service. Usually infants with tongue tie will need to be referred to paediatric surgery.
- Scrotal swellings and herniae should be referred to paediatric surgery.
- Possible developmental dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) should be referred to Orthopaedics.
- In some health services children with plagiocephaly may be directed to Child Health or allied health services
- If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services: https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/
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.