General Neurology and Rapid Access Clinic

What we do

These clinics provide care for a range of conditions that require specialist Neurologist care as defined by the statewide referral criteria. 

Patients referred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) with an already defined or diagnosed neurological condition will be triaged to a relevant subspecialty clinic where available.

Who can use our service

This clinic is suitable for:

• Adults (aged 18 years or over)
• Patients with neurological problems defined by the statewide referral criteria

This clinic is not suitable for: 

• Patients with conditions that do not meet the statewide referral criteria (or with inadequate information)
• Patients already receiving care for the same condition at another public hospital - these patients should only be referred in exceptional circumstances

Patient's residing address exclusion

The patient's residential address may affect whether we accept a referral.

Patients residing in metropolitan areas with a closer public outpatient Neurology service will generally not be accepted to this service and should be referred to a centre of care that is closer to their residing address.

Exceptions to this include:

• Patients who have ongoing care at the RMH for other medical conditions - these patients will generally be accepted regardless of residential address
• Patients residing in regional areas (who otherwise meet the clinic inclusion criteria) if nearer public hospitals do not provide a Neurology service

The residing address exclusion does not apply to all Neurological subspecialty clinics at the RMH.

For known neurological conditions, please refer to the relevant subspecialty clinic.

Urgent reviews

Where a referral details a neurological problem that requires urgent review (within 30 days), or if a patient is referred from the RMH Emergency Department in lieu of Neurologist review, the referral will be triaged to the Neurology Rapid Access Clinic.