Oncology and Malignant Haematology

Conditions seen at West Moreton Health

NOTE:
For Breast cancer, Colorectal cancer and Lymphadenopathy for investigation, name referral to General Surgery
For Head and neck cancer name referral to ENT
For Lung cancer name referral to Respiratory
For Testicular cancer name referral to Urology

Emergency

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.

Emergency treatment required - needs discussion with on call specialist and/or emergency department.

  • Symptoms of airway obstruction, SVC obstruction
  • Severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Febrile neutropenia
  • Symptomatic hypercalcaemia
  • Other organ failure/dysfunction
  • Uncontrolled and disabling pain
  • Massive haemoptysis and/or stridor
  • Neurological signs suggestive of brain metastases or cord compression
  • Very high calcium (3.0mmol/L)
  • Severe dysphagia with dehydration
  • Biopsy proven small cell lung cancer
    • patients with symptoms of shortness of breath, deteriorating organ function
  • Metastatic germ cell tumour (GCT) confirmed (biopsy) or suspected (tumour markers)
  • Patients with severe symptoms, organ failure or life threatening complications
  • Highly aggressive lymphoma
    • Burkitt’s lymphoma
    • lymphoblastic lymphoma
  • Acute leukaemia
Are you referring to the right service?

Please refer patient with:

  • non–melanoma skin lesions (SCCs/BCCs/IEC) to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • confirmed or suspected lung cancers to be referred to Respiratory Medicine
  • suspected or unconfirmed to diagnostic group:
    • breast cancer to General Surgery
    • Colorectal cancer to General Surgery
    • testicular cancer to Urology
    • head and neck cancer to ENT
  • patient requiring iron transfusions for non-malignant conditions, refer to General Medicine or Hospital in the Home
  • All referrals for concurrent Chemo/XRT for colorectal cancer should be sent directly to the Mater.
Urgent referrals

To request an urgent review, please phone the Ipswich Hospital switchboard on 3810 1111 and ask to speak to the Registrar of the relevant specialty.

Conditions not seen at West Moreton Health

The following conditions are treated at other health services dependent on patients location, please refer to the nearest hospital and health service.

Notes
  • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service. Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
  • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
  • Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

Out of catchment

West Moreton Health is responsible for providing a public health service to people who reside within its catchment area. To appropriately manage demand for service we do not accept referrals from outside this catchment area. If your patient does live outside the West Moreton Health area and it is deemed socially or clinically necessary for their care to be received in the West Moreton Health Service, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and/or social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

Feedback

To provide feedback about contents on this website or general referral questions please email WM-CPC@health.qld.gov.au or phone 3413 7402.