South Australian public hospital outpatient referral process guideline for clinicians.
Foot and Ankle Outpatient Services at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Unit provides inpatient and outpatient services for patients in the Central Adelaide Local Area Health Network who suffer from adult degenerative foot and ankle disorders and lower limb fractures.
Contact details
Clinic fax (for referrals): (08) 8222 7244 (area 3)
For all appointments: (08) 8222 7010 or (08) 8222 7030
Review / change of appointments: (08) 8222 7010 or (08) 8222 7030
Appointment location
The Foot and Ankle Outpatient clinic
Location: ground floor, area 3, Woodville SA 5011.
Outpatient Support Services
Location: level 6C – for booking appointments
Phone: (08) 8222 7010 or (08) 8222 7030.
General foot and ankle clinic
- assessment and management of degenerative foot and ankle disorders requiring arthroscopy or arthrodesis
- assessment and management of patients with Hallux valgus and fore foot deformities requiring surgery
- assessment and management of patients with lower limb fractures or ligament injuries of the foot and ankle.
Foot and ankle outpatient clinics
General Foot and Ankle clinics provide assessment of the patient, an opinion regarding the key clinical issues and advice to the patient and referring practitioner. Treatment can be provided for a large spectrum of problems through both surgical and non-surgical techniques.
Patients are generally supervised by a consultant medical officer, who works closely with other relevant health professionals depending on the reason for referral and the patient’s ongoing care needs.
Staff and clinic days
Monday weekly
Dr Nancy Cullen
Dr Linda Ferris (alternate weeks)
Dr Chi Gooi (alternate weeks)
All adult degenerative. All adult foot and ankle disorders and injuries.
Tuesday (am)
Dr Linda Ferris - New Referrals - as above.
Thursday (am)
Dr Nancy Cullen and Dr Chi Gooi - New referrals - as above.
Referral process
Preferred method of referral is by fax or letter.
Fax number: (08) 8222 7244
All referrals including those urgently requiring consultation must be in writing.
Please fax written referrals to (08) 8222 7244.
Non-urgent referrals will be allocated to the next available appointment. The waiting time may vary and be dependent on the demand for this service and the medical urgency of the patient’s condition. For non-urgent conditions please consider other options and do not refer to multiple providers regarding the same presenting complaint.
Should changes occur to a patient’s medical condition during the waiting time for an appointment, referrers should send updated clinical information.
For more more information view CALHN Foot and ankle orthopaedic outpatient services web page.
Alternate care options / health information for low priority conditions
Not all patients with foot and ankle conditions can be offered appointments in TQEH foot & ankle clinic.
In most cases, the key to appropriate management is a detailed history and examination.
Options for obtaining further information regarding various foot and ankle conditions and to provide guidance for assessment, investigations and management are listed under the foot & ankle clinical information sheets below.
Post discharge guidelines and information
Patients whose medical condition has stabilised or resolved and for whom no further appointment is necessary will be formally discharged.If foot and ankle assessment is required again, a new referral should be faxed to the foot & ankle clinic on (08) 8222 7244.
Foot and ankle clinical information sheets
The following information sheets about presentations commonly seen in foot & ankle clinics provide the minimum information required for assessing a referral under the headings of eligibility, priority, differential diagnosis, clinical information and investigations required, pre-referral management strategies and discharge criteria.
- Flat feet (PDF 224KB)
- Metatarsalgia / Morton’s neuroma (PDF 224KB)
- Plantar fasciitis (PDF 225KB)
- Hallux rigidus (PDF 128KB)
- Hallux valgus (PDF 127KB)
- Lesser toe deformities (claw toe / hammer toe) (PDF 127KB)
- Neuropathic joints (charcot joints) (PDF 129KB)
- Ankle / hindfoot arthritis (PDF 132KB).
There are also two general information sheets that have been developed to provide further information for patients.