The Department of Health and Human Services has developed Statewide referral criteria to assist GPs and other clinicians referring patients to outpatient clinics. These referral criteria have been developed to improve access to outpatient clinics in public hospitals by improving the quality and appropriateness of referrals.
From 1 November 2019, all Victorian public hospitals are expected to assess new adult referrals for select presenting conditions against the Statewide referral criteria for ENT, vascular and urology. From 1 February 2020, an additional two specialties, neurology and gastroenterology were implemented into Victorian public hospitals.
From 1 May 2021, another five specialties with new criteria for certain conditions have been added – these include Cardiology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, Ophthalmology and Chronic Pain
The Statewide referral criteria for the current live specialties (Cardiology, Chronic Pain, Endocrinology, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Rheumatology, Urology and Vascular) have been included in updated Health Pathways.
Triage clinicians at the RMH are now triaging referrals according to the new criteria and GP referrals may be declined if they do not meet the criteria and / or have missing information such as history or diagnostics etc.
Statewide Referral criteria
Information for referring GPs and other referring clinicians