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A patient consults with their GP

Lower urinary tract symptoms

Statewide referral criteria

Specialty: Urology
Age group: Adult

Direct to an emergency department for:

  • Acute, painful urinary retention.

Immediately contact the urology registrar to arrange an urgent urology assessment for:

  • Chronic urinary retention with deteriorating renal function or hydronephrosis.

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

  • Severe lower urinary tract symptoms
  • Men with complicated lower urinary tract symptoms:
    • bladder stones
    • elevated post-void residuals greater than 150 millilitres
    • hydronephrosis
  • Mild to moderate symptoms that have not responded to medical management.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided:

  • Midstream urine microscopy culture sensitivities
  • Urea and electrolytes
  • Urinary tract ultrasound or CT intravenous pyelogram results.

Provide if available:

  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) history
  • Bladder diary.

Additional comments

The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.

Where appropriate and available, the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.

Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for

  • Mild to moderate symptoms that have not been treated
  • Symptoms that have responded to medical management.

Updated

Contact us

Address
50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000

Phone
1300 650 172
National Relay Service

Email
plannedcare@health.vic.gov.au