New statewide referral criteria for plastic surgery and joint pain, including lower back pain, came into effect from 1 March 2024 in all Victorian public hospitals.
These criteria provide clear and concise guidance on when a referral for specialist opinion and management is indicated for a limited number of commonly presenting conditions. When a referring GP uses the new referral criteria for plastic surgery or joint pain to refer a patient to a public hospital, patients can be placed directly onto the specialist clinics wait list. The new statewide referral criteria encourage multi-disciplinary assessments to support non-surgical care and, when required appropriate direction to surgical treatment.
We’ve now updated the referral information on the Western Victoria HealthPathways for joint pain and plastics. You can find the new HealthPathways listed below.
Joint pain
- Rotator Cuff Disorders
- Shoulder Instability (Recurrent)
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
- Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injury
- Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Disease
- Shoulder Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Shoulder Pain
- MRI – Shoulder
- Hip and Knee Joint Replacement
- Hip Pain and Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
- Patella Injuries and Bursitis
- Collateral Ligament Injuries (Knee)
- Acute Knee Injuries
- Meniscal Tear
- MRI – Knee and Hip
- Low Back Pain in Adults
- MRI – Back Pain
- Acute Orthopaedic Assessment (Same day)
- Non-acute Orthopaedic Assessment (> 24 hours)
- Acute Neurosurgery Assessment (Same day)
- Non-acute Neurosurgery Assessment (> 24 hours)
- Acute Neurology Assessment (Same day)
- Non-acute Neurology Assessment (> 24 hours)
Plastic Surgery (focusing on hand and skin lesions)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Ganglia
- Middle and Proximal Phalanx Fractures
- Suspected Melanoma
- Keratinocyte Cancers (Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers)
- Metacarpal Fracture
- Soft Tissue Lumps and Sarcoma in Adults
- Trigger Finger in Adults
- Benign and Premalignant Skin Lesions
- Skin Lesion Excision
- Established Malignant Melanoma
- Finger Tip Injuries
- de Quervain Tenosynovitis
- Acute Plastic Surgery Assessment (Same day)
- Non-acute Plastic Surgery Assessment (> 24 hours)
Statewide referral criteria apply to public hospitals and health services only. They do not apply to private hospitals. Breast Surgery is the next suite of criteria scheduled for release on 1 June 2024, additional specialities set to be released throughout 2024.