Burns
Emergency referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Registrar to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment. Contact through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111.
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.
Red flags
Consider immediate referral of patients with any of the following
- Any burn with suspected inhalation injury should be sent directly to the nearest emergency department with appropriate supportive measures (ambulance).
- Signs of cellulitis or sepsis
Burns services are provided at the RBWH in Metro North by Surgical and Perioperative services. The Australian and New Zealand Burns Association have identified the following injuries as those requiring referral to a burns unit.
- Burns > 10% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA)
- Burns of special areas: face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum and major joints
- Full thickness burns > than 5% TBSA
- Electrical burns
- Chemical burns Burns with an associated inhalation injury
- Circumferential burns of the limbs or chest
- Burns at extremes of age – children or the elderly
- Burn injury in patients with pre-existing medical disorders which could complicate management, prolong recovery or affect mortality
- Burns in pregnant women
- Any burn patient with associated trauma
Most burns do not need immediate transfer and can be managed as an outpatient often with GP or local hospital follow-up. To facilitate referral or to get advice about assessment and management the burns registrar can be contacted through the RBWH switchboard and an emailed photo with the required information as outlined below will allow for correct management and assessment so appropriate treatment and follow-up can be determined.
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
- Location of the burn
- Estimated TBSA
- Mechanism of burn
- Estimated depth and appearance of burn
- First aid measures
- Current treatment and dressings
- Tetanus vaccination status
Out of catchment
Metro North Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service. If your patient lives outside the Metro North Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.
- Impact on employment
- Impact on education
- Impact on home
- Impact on activities of daily living
- Impact on ability to care for others
- Impact on personal frailty or safety
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- To establish a diagnosis
- For treatment or intervention
- For advice and management
- For specialist to take over management
- Reassurance for GP/second opinion
- For a specified test/investigation the GP can’t order, or the patient can’t afford or access
- Reassurance for the patient/family
- For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
- Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary
- Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
- Physical findings
- Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
- Current medications and dosages
- Drug allergies
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
- Full name (including aliases)
- Date of birth
- Residential and postal address
- Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
- Medicare number (where eligible)
- Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
- Preferred language and interpreter requirements
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- Full name
- Full address
- Contact details – telephone, fax, email
- Provider number
- Date of referral
- Signature
- Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
- Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
- Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)
Specialists list
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Medical Objects ID: MQ40290004P
HealthLink EDI: qldmnhhs
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@brisbanenorthphn.org.au
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.healthpathwayscommunity.org