New statewide referral criteria for a range of children’s ophthalmology and surgery conditions came into effect from 1 December 2025 in all Victorian public hospitals.
Patients can be placed on a specialist clinic wait list when a referring GP provides information that shows the referral meets the new children’s ophthalmology and surgery criteria.
The criteria identify the information that should be included in a referral to assess the referral and direct the patient to the best service available.
The Victorian Department of Health has developed and published statewide specialist referral criteria for a further eight children’s ophthalmology conditions (impacting three Pathways) and for a further eight children’s surgery conditions (impacting 14 Pathways). The children’s ophthalmology and surgery suites are among 19 suites of specialist referral criteria already in existence.
Western Victoria HealthPathways Updates
Children’s surgery:
- Ear Anomalies
- Infant Birthmarks
- Infant Routine Check
- Inguinal Lumps or Swelling in Children
- Penis and Foreskin Conditions in Children
- Rashes and Skin Lesions in Early Infancy
- Scrotal Pain or Swelling in Children and Young People
- Undescended Testes (UDT)
- Tongue-tie (Ankyloglossia)
- Trigger Thumb in Children
- Umbilical Pathology in Children
- Acute Paediatric Surgery Assessment
- Non-acute Paediatric Surgery Assessment
- Non-acute Plastic Surgery Assessment
Children’s ophthalmology:
To access pathway links, please login to your HealthPathways account. New to HealthPathways? Register for free access at Western Victoria HealthPathways.
Further information can be found on the HealthPathways web page or by contacting the team: [email protected].