GP Rapid Access Consultant Expertise (GRACE)

GP Rapid Access to Consultant Expertise (GRACE) provides a referral pathway for stable patients needing acute care for general medical conditions. GRACE allows patients to bypass the Emergency Department (ED) and have access to urgent, short-term treatment. This ensures the right patient gets the right care in the shortest possible time. This is a local service for people living within The Prince Charles Hospital catchment area. 

How the service works

To access this service, a GP or medical practitioner will need to send a referral letter to the hospital. We take referrals from 7.00am to 7.00pm daily (including public holidays). GPs must have seen the patient within 24 hours of issuing the referral. Once we receive the referral, the patient will be triaged and referred through to the most appropriate area.

If the patient doesn’t meet GRACE criteria, we will discuss other referral options with the GP. This may include sending the patient to ED, referrals to an Outpatient Department or a service within the community.

Patients who meet the criteria for this service will be accepted to the Rapid Access Medical Surgical (RAMS) Unit on the same or next working day. Referrals to RAMS can include:

• cellulitis
• delirium
• anaemia
• urinary tract infections
• falls.

Patients may also be transferred to Day Unit Investigation Therapy (DUIT) if they require treatment within a longer period of time (between 2 days and 2 weeks). Referrals to DUIT can include:

• iron Infusions
• non-urgent blood transfusions
• investigations to rule out or confirm diagnosis.