Outpatient referral content

Referrals to specialist outpatient services must be provided in writing for all patients. All referrals must include the information listed below.

• The patient’s full name (or alias) and where appropriate (e.g. for a minor) the name of the parent or caregiver.
• The patient’s address.
• The patient’s telephone number (home and mobile).
• The patient’s date of birth.
• Next of Kin / carer / guardian / local contact for paediatric referrals.
• Hospital Unit Medical Record Number (UMRN) and Medicare number (if known).
• Sufficient clinical information to allow appropriate triage of the referral. This should include GP diagnosis, presenting symptoms, physical findings, past history including details of previous treatment, and investigations.
• Where appropriate include details of facility where previous treatment has been provided, including date.
• Details of current medications and any drug allergies (including reaction to anaesthetics).
• Date of referral, details of referring doctor and GP details if different from the referring doctor and the name of the doctors/ clinic to which the patient is being referred.
• Interpreter requirements.
• Patient height and weight and where available, BMI.

Referrals which do not contain sufficient information to allow accurate triaging of the priority of the referral will be returned to the referrer.

Immediate referrals can be sent via email, or by fax. CRS referrals are preferred via electronic file.

Referral form templates (external site) can be downloaded into practice software for GP use.

Referrals written on a Practice Letterhead will also be accepted on the proviso that they contain minimum referral criteria as outlined above.