Specialty: Children's surgery
Age group: Children
Direct to an emergency department
- Urinary retention secondary to paraphimosis
- Priapism lasting more than 4 hours
- Swollen red penis in a child that is unwell, listless, flushed, anorexic or is febrile
- Zipper injury to the glans
Criteria for referral to public hospital service
- Pathologic phimosis that has not responded to medical management (i.e. topical corticosteroid for at least 4 weeks)
- Scarring due to recurrent balanitis in a child older than 3 years.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Findings on physical examination
- Details of previous management including the course of treatment(s) and outcome of treatment(s)
- Child’s age.
Provide if available
- Statement about the parent(s) or guardian’s interest in having surgical treatment if that is a possible intervention
- If the child identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- If the child is neurodiverse, gender diverse or has a disability
- If the child has a preferred language other than English and if they rely on cultural or linguistic support (e.g. Aboriginal cultural support, an interpreter)
- If the child lives in out-of-home care (foster care, kinship care, permanent care or residential care)
- If the child is aged 14-18 years, do they consent that their health information is shared with their parent, guardian or carer.
Additional comments
The Minimum information for referrals to non-admitted specialist services lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Referrals for circumcision for cultural or religious reasons will not be accepted.
Referrals based on parental request without symptoms will not be accepted.
Patients who develop complications from a circumcision procedure should be directed to return to the surgeon, practice or health service where the procedure was performed.
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
- A non-retractable or partially retractable foreskin is a normal variant and needs no intervention
- Circumcision for cultural or religious reasons.
Reviewed 12 August 2025