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
- Royal Adelaide Hospital (08) 7074 0000
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (08) 8222 6000
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Lyell McEwin Hospital (08) 8182 9000
- Modbury Hospital (08) 8161 2000
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Flinders Medical Centre (08) 8204 5511
- Noarlunga Hospital (08) 8384 9222
Regional Health Networks
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network
- Mt Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (08) 8393 1777
Eyre and Far North Local Health Network
- Port Lincoln Health Service (08) 7669 1200
Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network
- Port Augusta Hospital (08) 8668 7500
Limestone Coast Local Health Network
- Mt Gambier and Districts Health Service (08) 8721 1200
Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network
- Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital
- Monday to Friday (08) 8535 6777
- after hours or weekend (08) 8535 6777
Yorke and Northern Local Health Network
- Port Pirie Regional Health Service (08) 8638 4500
Exclusions
- aesthetic surgical procedures
- benign lesions including:
- naevi (melanocytic/pigmented)
- seborrheic keratoses
- skin tags
- warts
- xanthelasma
Triage categories
Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)
- rapidly enlarging cyst/lesion
- suspected malignancy
- suspected soft tissue tumour with concerning features
Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)
- nil
Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)
- benign lesions not of the face, hand, and neck including:
- ganglion
- lipoma
- cyst
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
- 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 required
- cultural considerations
- age
- past medical/surgical history
- medications and dosages
- allergies and sensitivities
- height, weight and body mass index (BMI)
- smoking, alcohol and other drug use
- onset, duration, and progression of symptoms
- presenting symptoms such as:
- functional impairment
- range of motion (ROM)
- size
- shape
- colour
- inflammation
- oozing/exudate
- change in sensation
- management history including
- injury/trauma, if relevant
- onset and duration
- severity
- pain
- trialled/implemented prior to referral
- ultrasound (US) – ganglion/cyst
Additional information to assist triage categorisation
- photograph, including disposable measurement tool, with patient’s consent, where secure image transfer, identification and storage is possible
Clinical management advice
Benign skin lesions may evolve or even regress over time. For instance, moles may change in appearance or fade away, skin tags may fall off, or seborrheic keratoses may become less prominent. Patients and GPs should monitor lesions for any concerning changes and report back if necessary.
Cysts, or benign lesions of the face, hand and neck should preferably be referred to specialist plastic surgery services when these services are available, see Cyst or Benign Lesion of the Face, Hand and Neck — Plastic and Reconstructive surgery Adult CPC.
Clinical resources
- Advances in Skin and Wound Care - Advances in Wound Photography and Assessment Methods
- DermNet - Common Benign Skin Lesions