Specialty: Dermatology
Age group: Adult
Direct to an emergency department
- Critical lower limb ischaemia with necrosis, pain or ulceration
- Rapidly deteriorating ulceration or necrosis
- Sepsis or acutely unwell due to infection
- Suspected acute limb ischaemia.
Criteria for referral to public hospital service
- Non-healing skin ulcers that are not related to venous or arterial disease, present for longer than 1 month with no reduction in size despite medical management
- Excessively painful skin ulcers.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Reason for referral and expectation or outcome, anticipated by the patient, or their carer, and the referring clinician from referral to the health service
- The functional or psychological impact on quality of life or activities of daily living including impact on work, study, exercise or carer role
- Findings on physical examination, wound history and location
- Current wound management including the dressings being used
- Details of previous management including the course of treatment(s), assessment of adherence to current management plan and outcome of treatment(s)
- Comprehensive past medical history
- Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements)
- Microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MCS) swab
- Ultrasound results to exclude venous or arterial disease.
Provide if available
- Colour photograph(s) – with patient’s consent where secure image transfer, identification and storage is possible. These images often assist with identifying clinical urgency and the most appropriate specialist clinic or service
- Biopsy results
- If the person identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- If the person is neurodiverse, gender diverse or has a disability
- If the person is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.
Additional comments
The Minimum information for referrals to non-admitted specialist services lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Note: there are vascular statewide referral criteria for Non-healing or chronic lower leg ulcers and High-risk foot ulcers and endocrinology statewide referral criteria for Diabetes-related foot complication.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
- Not applicable
Reviewed 11 July 2025