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
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital (08) 8161 7000
Category 1 - appointment clinically indicated within 30 days
- obstetric brachial plexus injury
- traumatic brachial plexus injury
Category 2 — appointment clinically indicated within 90 days
- nil
Category 3 — appointment clinically indicated within 365 days
- previously diagnosed brachial plexus injury
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
- child/parents demographic information including best contact details
- past medical/surgical history
- current medications and dosages
- allergies and sensitivities
- presenting symptoms
- management history including:
- trauma/injury, if relevant
- onset and duration
- severity
- pain
- associated features, e.g. functional impairment, range of motion (ROM), and sensory impairment
- treatments trialled/implemented prior to referral
- clinical modifiers including impact on:
- education
- home
- activities of daily living
- ultrasound (US) for trauma related presentations
Clinical management advice
Obstetric brachial plexus injury at birth patients are reviewed as an inpatient by allied health clinician within 7 days.
Assessment and treatment will be completed in the multi-disciplinary brachial plexus clinic (including nursing, allied health, and medical clinicians).
This is a guideline for outpatient referral only. If you have clinical concerns, please contact the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) Plastic and Reconstructive surgery service via switchboard on (08) 8161 7000.