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.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Category 1 — appointment clinically indicated within 30 days

  • confirmed or suspected tumour or hard mass in the salivary glands
  • abnormal imaging where malignancy is suspected

Category 2 — appointment clinically indicated within 90 days

  • pleomorphic adenoma previously investigated with static progression

Category 3 — appointment clinically indicated within 365 days

  • nil

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
  • 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
  • interpreter requirements
  • complete past medical history
  • current medication list including non-prescription medication, herbs and supplements
  • clinical history including:
    • onset and duration of symptoms
    • previous treatments and interventions
    • pain description (location, quality)
    • presence of lesions – location and size
  • associated functional impairment/s neck computerised tomography (CT) with contrast, including company and accession number
  • ultrasound (US) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the salivary tumour

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

  • complete blood examination (CBE)
  • urea, electrolytes and creatinine (UEC)
  • liver function test (LFT)
  • estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
  • alcohol and other drugs history