Rapid Access Services

• Hemodynamically stable, general medical, adult patients.
• Referrals may include management for patients with an acute flare of their chronic disease, wound review, low risk TIA review, hypertension, abnormal investigations or pathology that does not require emergency management.

Exclusion criteria:

• Systemically unwell patients.
• Not suitable for conditions such as acute chest pain, shortness of breath, or those requiring intravenous therapy or emergency care.
• Existing patients known to an oncology/palliative/respiratory/cardiology specialist at TPCH. These should be referred to those specialities if their condition requires specialist review.

Please call via the Metro North Clinical Advice Line on 1800 569 099 Monday to Friday 8.30am -4pm.

If the patient is accepted by the consultant for the RAC clinic, the patient is contacted directly by an admin officer to arrange an appointment time within 2-3 business days after referral. The patient does not need to present to the emergency department.

Please provide your patient with TPCH General Medicine Rapid Access Clinic patient information flyer.

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications or those already tried, recent relevant investigations and if you are the patient’s usual GP.

You will receive a letter detailing the recommended management plan for the patient (also available on “The Viewer”). You will be notified if the patient does not attend.

Call the TPCH General Medicine RAC Nurse on (07) 3139 6721.

• Patient is over 65 years (Over 50 if Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander person).
• Australian resident residing in Satellite Hospital catchment suburb including Bray Park, Brendale, Cashmere, Dakabin, Dayboro, Eatons Hill, Griffin, Kallangur, Kobble Creek, Lacey’s Creek, Lawnton, Mount Samson, Murrumba Downs, Petrie, Samsonvale, Strathpine.
• Patient requires immediate or next day intervention to prevent hospital admission due to age-related medical conditions.

Exclusion criteria:
Patients may be ineligible if:

• Currently accessing equivalent services in public or private sector
• Reside outside of catchment area
• Medically unstable requiring inpatient assessment or currently an inpatient
• Only require therapy for maintenance of chronic condition
• Residential aged care facility residents

Please call the Rapid Access Clinician on 1800 569 099.

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications, recent relevant investigations and if you are the patient’s usual GP.

Please contact the clinic for further information on 1800 569 099.

• Residential aged care facility residents based in the Metro North catchment
• Uncomplicated confirmed fracture that can be managed at the patient’s RACF
• Post reduction/surgical intervention once discharged from hospital

Exclusion criteria

• Acute closed fracture requiring sedation for reduction
• Fractures requiring surgical management

Please call 1300 072 327 to refer the patient. Referrals are accepted 8.00am – 8.00pm 7 days/week.

Type and location of fracture, why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications, recent investigations and is you are the patient’s regular GP

The referrer will receive a discharge summary of the patient assessment, interventions and care recommendations.

Please contact OPEN on 1300 072 327 or via open@health.qld.gov.au.

Further information can be found on the OPEN webpage.

General Practitioners and Practice Nurses can now refer adult patients who are experiencing an exacerbation of a chronic condition or a new illness or injury that require rapid, comprehensive, community assessment or advice as an alternative to hospital presentation.

Exclusion Criteria

The service will not accept referrals for patients when;

• Primary issue of concern is acute mental health presentation
• Primary issue of concern is alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
• Safety concerns exist for home visiting staff
• Patient resides in Residential Aged Care Facility

Two options for GPs:

1. Phone:

Please phone the Rapid Access to Community Care team direct on 1300 220 922 Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

Alternatively, please call via the Metro North Clinical Advice Line on 1800 569 099 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm.

2. Electronic

Referrals can also be sent via GP Smart referrals to the central patient intake unit.

The RACC clinical nurse and/or occupational therapist (depending on the reason for referral) will initially assess the patient in their own home within 1 business day and refer on to the most appropriate, established community support services including:

1. Metro North Community Health services:
   • Post Acute Care
   • Coordinated, complex, multidisciplinary care
   • Allied health services  e.g. Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Speech Therapy, Social Work, Podiatry, Pharmacy medication review
   • Nursing Care
   • Geriatrician
   • Rehabilitation
   • ACAT
   • Diabetes
2. PHN Team Care Coordination (noting that GPs can continue to direct refer to Team Care Coordination)
3. Non-Government Organisations
4. My Aged Care
5. Home support

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications.

Feedback will be provided to the referrer by the RACC Team.

Call the service on 1300 220 922.

The Rapid Access Heart Failure Treatment Service (RAHFTS)  is  available for adult patients with heart failure who are known to any treating teams in the Metro North catchment.

Exclusion Criteria

• Those requiring emergency care such as acute chest pain, where any delay in treatment could be dangerous.

GPs can call Metro North Clinical Advice Line on 1800 569 099 Monday to Friday 8.30am-4pm. (Same day triage to emergency, ward, or RAHFTS)

NB: Patients can self-refer via contacting their local heart failure support service (see numbers under ‘for more information’)

• Patients will usually be offered a RAHFTS appointment at the hospital most involved in their care and/or closest to home (depending on urgency). RAHFTS locations are at The Prince Charles Hospital (Mon, Wed) or Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital (Tues, Thurs) and Redcliffe Hospital (Wed).
• Patients accepted in to RAHFTS will be contacted within one business day of referral and provided with instructions on check in and clinic location.

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications or those already tried, recent relevant investigations and if you are the patient’s usual GP.

You will receive a letter detailing the recommended management plan for the patient and what treatment was provided at RAHFTS (also available on “The Viewer”). You will be notified on the day of the clinics if the patient does not attend.

Please contact the following Heart Failure Support Services:

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital: Tel 3646 6465
The Prince Charles Hospital : Tel 3139 4693 option 3
Redcliffe Hospital RAHFTS/Cardiac liaison service: Tel 3049 6821

General Practitioners can refer adult high risk adult COVID patients or moderate risk patients of concern and those requiring IV Remdesivir.

Virtual Ward can also accept patients who are experiencing an acute illness or an acute exacerbation of a chronic condition that requires ongoing monitoring and treatment as an alternative to hospital presentation such as:

• Patients who require a brief period of monitoring and treatment which would otherwise require them to stay in hospital
• Patients at risk of deterioration, which if detected early, can be managed at home with the aim that hospital admission be avoided

Examples of conditions that may be suitable

• infective exacerbations of asthma and other chronic obstructive airway conditions
• community acquired pneumonia
• soft tissue, skin infections
• urinary tract infection
• severe hypertension without neurological red flags for short term monitoring, medication adjustment
• high blood sugar without ketoacidosis for short term monitoring, medication adjustment.

Exclusion Criteria

The service will not accept referrals for patients when;

• Patients aged under 16 years
• Patients residing in an Residential Aged Care Facility (please contact RADAR)

Please phone the Virtual Ward team direct on 3074 2109 Monday to Sunday 8.00am – 5.00pm. If your patient is accepted by the Virtual Ward Consultant please complete an electronic referral using Virtual Ward specific, Best Practice or Medical Director, referral templates which can be accessed from the Brisbane North PHN website.

Alternatively, please call via the Metro North Clinical Advice Line on 1800 569 099 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm.

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications.

Virtual Ward progress notes are available on The Viewer and a Discharge Summary will be completed and provided to the GP following the Virtual Ward admission.

Metro North Virtual Ward for more information or call the service on 3074 2109.

• New or worsening dizziness
• Patients with recurrence of dizziness previously seen in the vestibular service

Exclusion Criteria

• Out of catchment for TPCH

Please call via the Metro North Clinical Advice Line on 1800 569 099 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm.

If the patient is accepted for review in clinic, the patient is contacted directly by the Advanced Vestibular Physiotherapist to arrange an appointment time within 1-2 business days after referral. The patient does not need to present to the emergency department.

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications, recent relevant investigations.

Feedback will be provided to the referrer by the Vestibular Rapid Access team. 

Please contact the clinic for further information on (07) 3139 6073.

All adult patients are accepted to Eye Casualty.

Patients should present to Eye Casualty with a written referral including the information as described below. Patients are triaged and seen in order of assessed urgency.

Why you want the patient seen, past medical history, current medications, recent relevant investigations and if you are the patient’s usual GP or Optometrist.

See Ophthalmology – Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for more information regarding RBWH Ophthalmology services.