Specialty: ENT
Age group: Adult
Direct to an appropriate emergency department for:
- Sudden onset of inability to swallow
- Inability to swallow
- Swallowing problems accompanied by difficulty in breathing or stridor
- Difficulty in swallowing caused by a foreign body or solid food.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Oropharyngeal or throat dysphagia with either:
- hoarseness
- progressive weight loss
- history of smoking
- excessive alcohol intake.
- Progressively worsening oropharyngeal or throat dysphagia
- Inability to swallow with drooling or pooling of saliva.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- History of symptoms over time
- History of smoking
- History of excessive alcohol intake.
Provide if available
Not applicable.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Referrals for oesophageal dysphagia should be directed to a gastroenterology service provided by the health service.
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 27 May 2025