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 urgent referrals and/or clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network and ask to speak to the on-call geneticist and or duty genetic counsellor for the service required.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Exclusions

Confirmed or suspected clinical diagnosis of Huntington disease refer to Movement Disorders (including Parkinson’s Disease and Tremor) - Adult Neurology CPC.

Triage categories

Category 1 — appointment clinically indicated within 30 days

  • individual with known to have, or is at risk of inheriting, Huntington disease and they or their partner is pregnant. Patients will generally be seen within 7 days, usually 2 to 3 days.
  • individual with suspected Huntington disease AND is currently on or about to go on a palliative care pathway. Contact will be made within 7 days. 

Category 2 — appointment clinically indicated within 90 days

  • individual with a family history of Huntington disease a considering predictive genetic testing

Category 3 — appointment clinically indicated within 365 days

  • nil

For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information page.

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
  • for adult patients, relevant social history, including identifying if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • for paediatric patients, 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
  • relevant family history with names of affected relatives and the state/country where genetic testing was completed

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

  • identify if the family is known to clinical Genetics or the Huntington Disease Service in South Australia. Where possible, provide the genetics file number and names of relative/s seen.
  • if the family are known to another genetic service, provide the location/name, and family reference number if available

Clinical management advice

Individuals or a couple at risk of having an affected pregnancy may be referred to Paediatric Reproductive Genetics Unit (PRGU) for reproductive counselling.

The South Australian Huntington’s Disease Service is a statewide service for people with Huntington Disease and their families. If there are any queries regarding the appropriateness of a referral, you can contact the Huntington’s disease Service at the Repat Health Precinct

Clinical resources

Consumer resources