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.
- acute illness associated with cystic fibrosis
- cystic fibrosis with any of the following concerning features:
- respiratory distress
- new haemoptysis, clots more than streaks
- pleural effusion
- consolidation/pneumonia/fever
- non-response to antibiotics for chest infection
Please contact the on-call registrar to discuss your concerns prior to referral.
For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.
Women's and Children's Health Network
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital (08) 8161 7000
Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)
- newly diagnosed cystic fibrosis referred following newborn neonatal screening test, genetic labs or metabolic team following abnormal sweat test
Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)
- suspected but undiagnosed cystic fibrosis
Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)
- nil
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 within your referral if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population, under guardianship/out-of-home care arrangements and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
- interpreter required
- medications