Specialty: Urology
Age group: Adult
Direct to an emergency department for:
- Acute, painful urinary retention.
Immediately contact the urology registrar to arrange an urgent urology assessment for:
- Chronic urinary retention with deteriorating renal function or hydronephrosis.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Severe lower urinary tract symptoms
- Men with complicated lower urinary tract symptoms:
- bladder stones
- elevated post-void residuals greater than 150 millilitres
- hydronephrosis
- Mild to moderate symptoms that have not responded to medical management.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided:
- Midstream urine microscopy culture sensitivities
- Urea and electrolytes
- Urinary tract ultrasound or CT intravenous pyelogram results.
Provide if available:
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) history
- Bladder diary.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
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
- Mild to moderate symptoms that have not been treated
- Symptoms that have responded to medical management.
Reviewed 30 May 2025