Feeding/Swallowing
Paediatric

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Useful Management Information

No useful management information

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)	Immediate appointment in outpatients is recommended for: Infant or child with feeding/swallowing problem and: Failure of immediate treatment would result in significant morbidity. Severe malnutrition (z score > -3). Reported swallowing difficulties e.g. coughing, choking. Suspected aspiration pneumonia Not managing oral secretions. Appointment within 7 days is recommended for: Infant or child with feeding/swallowing problem and: Suspected pharyngeal phase swallowing difficulties with recurrent chest infections, chronic cough. Discharged from NCU with respiratory support, at high risk of aspiration and feeding aversion/slow growth. Discharged from a GCUH inpatient unit with limited assessment +/- not assessed prior to discharge. Reduced oral feeding with faltering growth who are not receiving enteral feeding At risk of hospital admission if not seen within 7 days. Appointment within 30 days is recommended for: Infant or child with feeding/swallowing problem with prioritisation based on age: Discharged from a GCUH inpatient unit and requires ongoing assessment and intervention related to their feeding/swallowing difficulties. NGT feeding and requires ongoing assessment and intervention. VFSS referral. Initiation of a tube weaning program < 2 years. Child with tracheostomy requiring swallowing review. Identified as a high-risk patient group e.g. GI disorders, facial palsy, VPI, preterm (<34 weeks GA). Delayed skills with suck feeding (<12months) e.g. lengthy feed times (>30mins), poor latch. Oral phase difficulties only <18 months of age: Delayed oromotor skills impacting upon ability to each age- appropriate foods. Significant delay in establishing solids. Food selectivity accepting <10 foods
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)	Delayed oral-motor skills impacting upon child’s ability to eat age- appropriate foods > 18 months. Initiation of a tube weaning program > 2 years. Feeding disorders + PEG. Food selectivity accepting 10-20 foods.
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)	Food selectivity accepting 20-30 foods from variety of food types. Delayed oral-motor skills, sensory processing difficulties and/or behavioural issues aged > 2 years. Maintaining weight/no growth concerns. Long-term total or partial tube dependency.
If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested: Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.) Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Standard Referral Information

Reason for request

To establish a diagnosis
For treatment or intervention
For advice and management
For specialist to take over management
Reassurance for GP/second opinion
For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
Reassurance for the patient/family
For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
Physical findings
Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
Body mass index (BMI)
Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
Current medications and dosages
Drug allergies
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Patient's Demographic Details

Full name (including aliases)
Date and country of birth
Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
Medicare number (where eligible)
Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
Preferred language and interpreter requirements
Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

Full name
Full address
Contact details – telephone, fax, email
Provider number
Date of referral
Signature
Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

Essential Referral Information

Clear reason for referral
History / Duration of symptoms/condition
Medical and social history and list of medications
Results of relevant medical assessments/investigations/management of condition
Next of kin details

If a specific test result cannot be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a clinical override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

Any other health care professionals currently involved (e.g. other Allied Health Professionals, Health Clinicians).
Previous speech pathology or specialist assessment reports.

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Not Available

Internal Referrals

(E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Allied Health Outpatients
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

(07) 5687 3027

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

HealthPathways home page

Service Availability

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

Robina Hospital

Tugun Satellite Health Centre

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Child Safety

If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, contact Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Services . Please consider if mandatory reporting applies.

Feeding/SwallowingPaediatric