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A patient consults with their GP

Rhinosinusitis

Statewide referral criteria

Specialty: ENT
Age group: Adult

Direct to an appropriate emergency department for:

  • Complicated sinus disease with:
    • orbital and/or neurological signs
    • severe systemic symptoms
    • periorbital oedema or erthyema
    • altered visual acuity, diplopia, or reduced eye movement.

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

  • New and persistent unilateral nasal obstruction present for more than 4 weeks
  • Rhinosinusitis that has not responded to 3 months of intranasal steroid and nasal lavage treatment.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided:

  • Presence of epistaxis
  • Details of previous medical management including the course of treatment (e.g. intransal steroid, nasal lavage or antibiotics) and outcome of treatment.

Provide if available:

Not applicable.

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

  • Patients with headaches who have a normal CT scan which has been performed when the patient has symptoms
  • Patients who have not had 3 months of intranasal steroid and nasal lavage treatment.

Updated

Contact us

Address
50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000

Phone
1300 650 172
National Relay Service

Email
plannedcare@health.vic.gov.au