Specialty: General surgery
Age group: Adult
Direct to an emergency department for:
- Sepsis or acutely unwell due to infection.
Criteria for referral to public hospital service
Persistent perianal lump with symptoms of concern (e.g. night sweats, unexplained weight loss, tenesmus, recent change in bowel habits).
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Findings on physical examination
- Onset, characteristics and duration of symptoms of concern.
Provide if available
Not applicable
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
- Perianal lumps without concerning features or that have resolved
- Asymptomatic skin tags.
Reviewed 27 May 2025
Statewide Referral Criteria
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- Children's surgery
- Abdominal wall, groin and umbilical hernias in children
- Assessment of congenital hand anomalies in children
- Assessment of ear anomalies in children
- Assessment of subcutaneous lesions and lumps in children
- Assessment of tongue mobility in children
- Birthmarks – children's surgery
- Foreskin and penis conditions in children
- Testis conditions in children
- Trigger finger or thumb in children
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- Chronic pain (Health Independence Program service)
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- Dermatology
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- Dermatology - adults
- Alopecia
- Assessment of acne management
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- Chronic skin ulcers
- Hidradenitis suppurativa
- Melanoma - dermatology
- Skin and nail infections and infestations
- Skin lesions and other skin cancers - dermatology
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- Dermatology - children
- Alopecia in children
- Assessment of acne management in children
- Assessment of dermatitis (eczema) management in children
- Assessment of psoriasis management in children
- Assessment of vitiligo in children
- Birthmarks
- Blistering eruptions, rash of unknown cause and adverse drug reactions in children
- Chronic skin ulcers in children
- Hidradenitis suppurativa in children
- Melanoma in children
- Skin and nail infections and infestations in children
- Skin lesions and other skin cancers in children
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- Gastroenterology
- Chronic refractory constipation
- Chronic refractory diarrhoea
- Cirrhosis
- Coeliac disease
- Constipation with sentinel findings
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- Dysphagia - diagnostic gastroscopy
- Dysphagia - gastroenterology
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Hepatitis B
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- Positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) - diagnostic colonoscopy
- Rectal bleeding - gastroenterology
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- General surgery
- Abdominal wall and groin hernias
- Advice on inherited breast cancer (high- risk patients)
- Assessment for breast reconstruction surgery
- Breast lumps and other conditions
- Breast reduction surgery
- Carpal tunnel and other nerve compression syndromes
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Gallbladder stones and polyps
- Hand fractures and infections
- Hiatus hernia
- Known or suspected upper gastrointestinal malignancy
- Known or suspected hepatobiliary malignancy
- Melanoma
- Perianal lumps
- Rectal bleeding - general surgery
- Skin lesions and other skin cancers
- Stenosing tenosynovitis including trigger finger
- Suspected or confirmed breast cancer
- Long COVID