Colorectal bowel disease
Emergency department referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Surgical Registrar to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment. Contact through:
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111
- The Prince Charles Hospital (07) 3139 4000
- Redcliffe Hospital (07) 3883 7777
- Caboolture Hospital (07) 5433 8888
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
- Diagnosed malignancies
- Palpable or visible anorectal or abdominal mass
- Recent significant unexplained weight loss (≥5% of body weight in previous 6 months)
- GI obstructive symptoms or stricture
- Colovesical or colovaginal fistula
- FOBT positive – please refer directly to Gastroenterology for Open Access Colonoscopy if screening FOBT positive (including National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test results)
- Rectal bleeding with any concerning features(including those listed above):
- Dark blood coating or mixed with stool
- Iron deficiency
- Tenesmus
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Chronic ongoing colorectal problems
- Recurrent diarrhoea
- Diverticular disease for evaluation
- Rectal bleeding without concerning features (see category 1)
- Personal or family history of bowel cancer requiring screening or surveillance
- Inflammatory bowel disease without complication
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Chronic constipation
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 HealthPathways or local guidelines
- Digital rectal examination (to exclude malignancy) should be performed for all patients with symptoms of colorectal cancer or other perianal pathologies
- Lifestyle modification (e.g. increased physical activity, balanced healthy diet, weight reduction, smoking and alcohol cessation) can be very useful for a wide range of functional bowel and anorectal issues
- Correction of iron deficiency and anaemia as soon as possible is paramount
- Change in symptoms should initiate reassessment of previous results
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
- History of presenting complaint (including any concerning features listed in Cat 1)
- Co-morbid conditions and risk factors for colorectal disease
- Family history of polyposis or inherited colorectal cancer syndromes, gastrointestinal malignancy or inflammatory bowel disease
- Details and results/reports of most recent gastrointestinal investigations or procedures (e.g. imaging, colonoscopy, biopsy/polypectomy results) including letters of correspondence
- Blood tests (e.g.,FBC LFT, U&E, CRP, Iron studies) if performed
- CEA results if diagnosis of cancer suspected
Additional referral information useful for processing the referral
- Digital anorectal examination findings
- FOBT results
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.)
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