Referral to 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.

  • nil

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Women's and Children's Health Network

Category 1 - appointment clinically indicated within 30 days

  • possible central nervous system (CNS) signs, e.g. visual disturbance, morning headaches etc
  • hypoglycaemia
  • untreated hypothyroidism with short stature
  • Cushing’s syndrome, not iatrogenic

Category 2 — appointment clinically indicated within 90 days

  • height below the 1st percentile
  • height percentiles are falling
  • height is inconsistent with mid-parental height
  • body proportions are abnormal

Category 3 — appointment clinically indicated within 365 days

  • variants of normal growth including familial short stature

For information on referral forms and how to import them, please view general referral information.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. 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.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • identify within your referral if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population, under guardianship/out-of-home care arrangements and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter requirements

History

  • past medical/surgical history
  • onset, duration, and progression of symptoms
  • current medications and dosages
  • allergies and sensitivities
  • parental heights and family history
  • management history including treatments trialled/implemented prior to referral

Examination

  • examination results, including:
    • age of onset of puberty
    • current and previous height and weight measurements
  • height/weight/body mass index (BMI)

Investigations

  • bone age X-ray

Clinical management advice

Evaluation of short stature is recommended if:

  • height is below the 1st percentile
  • height percentiles are falling
  • height is inconsistent with mid-parental height
  • body proportions are abnormal.

General information

Contact Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) endocrinology on-call on (08) 8161 7000 for advice or to escalate and discuss any clinical concerns.

Recent pathology results will be required prior to outpatient appointment. Consider providing repeat pathology form to patient at time of referral.

Patients who have previously been seen by a specialist are encouraged to be referred back to their care for further review if required.

Referrals are accepted at the discretion of the triaging clinician. If you are concerned that your patient requires specialist review, but may not fit the criteria provided, you are encouraged to contact the specialist team to discuss your concerns.

Clinical resources

Consumer resources