Specialty: Neurology
Age group: Adult
Direct to an emergency department for:
- Rapidly progressive neurological symptoms leading to weakness or imbalance.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Focal neuropathy or plexopathy of unclear cause
- Suspected peripheral neuropathy
- Persistent, unexplained sensory symptoms
- Suspected or confirmed multiple sclerosis
- Suspected or confirmed motor neurone disease.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- History of symptoms, including distribution and timing
- Current and previous imaging results
- Details of any previous neurology assessments or opinions.
Provide if available
- Examination findings
- Any nerve conduction study results
- Full blood examination
- Liver function tests
- Fasting blood glucose level
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein
- Thyroid stimulating hormone levels
- Vitamin B12 and folate test results
- Anti-double-stranded DNA test
- Protein electrophoresis of serum
- Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV results
- If symptoms are thought to be linked to probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection or Long COVID.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Referrals for confirmed Carpal tunnel and other nerve compression syndromes should be directed to a surgical 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 30 May 2025