Specialty: ENT
Age group: Adult
Direct to an appropriate emergency department for:
- Complicated sinus disease with:
- orbital and/or neurological signs
- severe systemic symptoms
- periorbital oedema or erthyema
- altered visual acuity, diplopia, or reduced eye movement.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- New and persistent unilateral nasal obstruction present for more than 4 weeks
- Rhinosinusitis that has not responded to 3 months of intranasal steroid and nasal lavage treatment.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided:
- Presence of epistaxis
- Details of previous medical management including the course of treatment (e.g. intransal steroid, nasal lavage or antibiotics) and outcome of treatment.
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
- Patients with headaches who have a normal CT scan which has been performed when the patient has symptoms
- Patients who have not had 3 months of intranasal steroid and nasal lavage treatment.
Reviewed 30 May 2025