Gait abnormality, isolated motor delay or focal weakness
Paediatric

Neurology

Useful Management Information

  • If guidance is required regarding appropriate investigations, please contact the Neurologist on call
  • In the majority of cases it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment
  • Referral from a health practitioner other than a General Paediatrician may be accepted if there is limited access to Public Paediatric services in the patients’ local area
  • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
  • Clinical urgency is the dominant consideration in the prioritisation of a referral for a child currently in out of home care (OOHC), or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC.

Clinical resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Confirmed diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder in a child <12 months
  • Confirmed diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder with a disease modifying treatment (e.g. CMT, myotonic dystrophy)
    • Elevated CK >2000IU
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Progressive muscle weakness over months or plateau of motor development
  • Decline in gross motor function over time e.g. falls, difficulties with stairs, ataxia
  • Deterioration in fine motor skills e.g. handwriting, dressing
  • Muscle wasting or limb asymmetry
  • Elevated CK but < 2000IU
  • Foot deformity for diagnosis where there is a concerned about neuropathy
  • Confirmed diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder in a child >12 months
  • Confirmed diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder without a disease modifying treatment (e.g. CMT, myotonic dystrophy)

Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria

Essential Referral Information

  • History related to gait abnormality, motor delay or focal weakness
  • Neurological examination findings, including tone, contractures, power, deep tendon reflexes, cranial nerve involvement, muscle wasting

Additional Referral Information

  • Birth and developmental history
  • Family history
  • Growth parameters
  • Medication history (including over-the-counter preparations)
  • Significant psychosocial risk factors
  • Allied Therapy reports
  • Investigations including CK and microarray and store DNA – include results if not performed through Pathology Queensland (requested but results not required prior to initiation of referral)
  • Neuroimaging is not clinically indicated if a primary neuromuscular disorder is suspected AND anaesthesia risk maybe high in these patients. If neuroimaging has been done (i.e. clinically indicated e.g. suspected cerebral palsy), arrange image transfer to PACS at the hospital the patient is being referred to, with the imaging reports. If electronic imaging transfer is not available, then a CD of the neuroimaging and report should be sent to the neurologist named in the referral.
  • If the child is in foster care, please provide the name and regional office for the Child Safety Officer who is the responsible case manager.
Last updated 19 December 2022

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Neurology (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Saman Heshmat
Medical Director Neurology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

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.

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