If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

Adult

EAR

• ENT conditions with associated neurological signs
• Sudden onset hearing loss in absence of clear aetiology and/or associated with vertigo and tinnitus
• Sudden onset debilitating constant vertigo where the patient is very imbalanced (vestibular neuritis/stroke)
• Sudden onset facial weakness
• Barotrauma with sudden onset vertigo
• Foreign body
• Complicated mastoiditis/cholesteatoma or sinusitis (periorbital cellulitis, frontal sinusitis with persistent frontal headache)
• Ear canal oedema/unable to clear discharge
• Trauma

Paediatric

EAR

• Foreign body
• Trauma
• ENT conditions with associated neurological signs e.g. facial nerve palsy, profound vertigo and/or sudden deterioration in sensorineural hearing
• Acute and/or complicated mastoiditis
• Otitis externa with uncontrolled pain and/or cellulitis extending beyond the ear canal and/or ear canal is swollen shut
• Auricular haematoma

Refer to HealthPathways or local guidelines

• Exclude central cause of vertigo (cardiac/respiratory)
• Perform Hallpike test and Head Impulse Test (HIT) to determine likely cause of vertigo
• If BPPV likely based on symptoms and a positive Hallpike, then treat with canalith repositioning manoeuvre (Epleys or BBQ roll) and consider referral to a physiotherapist/vestibular physiotherapist
• If HIT positive with acute vertigo, consider vestibular neuritis
• Consider migraine associated vertigo and if appropriate consider trial of
  • Pizotifen 0.5mg to 1mg orally, at night, up to 3mg daily or
  • Propranalol 40mg orally, 2-3 times daily, up to 320mg or
  • Verapamil (sustained release) 160 or 180mg orally, once daily, up to 320 or 360mg daily
• Arrange diagnostic audiological assessment and/or vestibular testing
• Review of current medications
• Occupational therapy home assessment for falls prevention
• Consider advice regarding safe driving/licencing

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

• Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis
• If you still need to refer your patient:
  • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Patient's Demographic Details

• Full name (including aliases)
• Date and country of birth
• Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
• Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
• Medicare number (where eligible)
• Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
• Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
• Preferred language and interpreter requirements
• Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

• Full name
• Full address
• Contact details – telephone, fax, email
• Provider number
• Date of referral
• Signature
• Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Relevant clinical information about the condition

• Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
• Physical findings
• Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
• All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes, BMI), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
• Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g. tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
• Current medications and dosages
• Drug allergies
• Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Reason for request

• To establish a diagnosis
• For treatment or intervention
• For advice and management
• For specialist to take over management
• Reassurance for GP/second opinion
• For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
• Reassurance for the patient/family
• For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
• Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Clinical modifiers

• Impact on employment
• Impact on education
• Impact on home
• Impact on activities of daily living functioning – low/medium/high
• Impact on ability to care for others
• Impact on personal frailty or safety
• Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

Other relevant information

• Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
• Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
• Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc