Nurse Navigation Oncology
Adult

On this page

Emergency Referrals

Useful Management Information

The Oncology Nurse Navigation service operates Monday to Friday during standard business hours and supports patients who are receiving medical oncology care or who have an anticipated referral pathway to medical oncology. This short‑term service works in collaboration with the multidisciplinary oncology team to optimise health outcomes and facilitate care for individuals experiencing social or practical barriers that may affect their access to treatment. Navigators may also work across multiple specialties for patients with chronic disease or dual diagnoses.

The Oncology Nurse Navigator assists with streamlining health care across specialties and the community. This includes providing health education and practical support related to social determinants of health, building partnerships, and connecting patients with appropriate primary health care providers such as charitable community organisations, non‑government organisations, general practitioners, and any other relevant stakeholders.

Nurse Navigation is tailored to the individual, with the overarching goal of improving health outcomes for those experiencing physical, financial, or social challenges that impact their ability to engage with health services. The service aims to prevent hospitalisation by addressing current health and social issues and linking patients with appropriate social and primary health care supports.

The Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant will continue to serve as the primary point of contact for acute treatment needs and cancer‑related concerns.

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1 (Appointment within 30 calendar days)	Patients with a confirmed solid tumour malignancy under the care of Gold Coast Health Service with one of the following: Complex care co-ordination requirements with multiple disciplines. Support for newly diagnosed patients who require service link-in and navigation to facilitate medical or surgical treatment and investigations. Care co-ordination and community link in for those on systemic treatment or planned/considering systemic treatment.
Category 2 (Appointment within 90 calendar days)	Medical Oncology patients under the current care of a multi-disciplinary community care co-ordination service, GEMITH, MAPS, complex care, Clinical Frailty Service or similar with Gold Coast Health. Medical Oncology patients engaged in current care with a community nurse navigation service in Gold Coast Health.
Category 3 (Appointment within 365 calendar days)	No category 3 criteria

Category 1 (Appointment within 30 calendar days)

Patients with a confirmed solid tumour malignancy under the care of Gold Coast Health Service with one of the following:

Complex care co-ordination requirements with multiple disciplines.
Support for newly diagnosed patients who require service link-in and navigation to facilitate medical or surgical treatment and investigations.
Care co-ordination and community link in for those on systemic treatment or planned/considering systemic treatment.

Category 2 (Appointment within 90 calendar days)

Medical Oncology patients under the current care of a multi-disciplinary community care co-ordination service, GEMITH, MAPS, complex care, Clinical Frailty Service or similar with Gold Coast Health.
Medical Oncology patients engaged in current care with a community nurse navigation service in Gold Coast Health.

Category 3 (Appointment within 365 calendar days)

No category 3 criteria

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

Current radiologically or biopsy confirmed cancer diagnosis which has been disclosed to the patient.
Has active or anticipated referral pathway to medical oncology.
Confirmation of which Gold Coast Health Service team has current direct care of the patient.

Additional Referral Information

Medical co-morbidities or complex care needs of the patient.
Proposed plans of any surgical treatment, procedures or investigations.
List any specialties the patient will be engaging with.

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Not Available

Internal Referrals

Nurse Navigator - Oncology qhRefer

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Enquiries

Not available

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

HealthPathways home page

Service Availability

Dr Marcin Dzienis

Medical Director Radiation Oncology (ICON Cancer Care)

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.

Nurse Navigation OncologyAdult

Important