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Useful Management Information
- An EEG should be performed only to support a diagnosis of epilepsy in children and young people
- If an EEG is considered necessary, it should be performed after the second epileptic seizure but may, in certain circumstances, as evaluated by the specialist, be considered after a first epileptic seizure
- An EEG should not be performed in the case of probable syncope because of the possibility of a false-positive result
- The EEG should not be used to exclude a diagnosis of epilepsy in a child, young person or adult in whom the clinical presentation supports a diagnosis of a non-epileptic event
- Encourage parents to keep diaries of events and video an event if possible
- If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services
- In the majority of cases it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment
- 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.
Clinician Resources
Patient Resources
Minimum Referral Criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
| Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days) |
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|---|---|
| Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days) |
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| Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days) |
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If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
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Essential Referral Information
- Detailed seizure description, duration, frequency, date of onset
- Associated problems such as cyanosis or injuries during events
- Details of current medications used to control epilepsy, if any
- Report presence or absence of concerning features:
- Headaches
- Focal seizures
- Personality change
- Polyuria or polydipsia
- Recent change in sleep behaviour
- Recent onset of clumsiness or poor coordination,
- Unexplained vomiting
Additional Referral Information
Highly desirable Information – may change triage category
- Additional history of events including post event drowsiness, incontinence or injuries during events
- Past treatments/medications offered and efficacy Including previous acute anticonvulsant management
- Other neurological or development conditions present
- Either:
- current developmental status (age appropriate, some delay, significant delay) OR
- brief comment on current school educational attainments (good, average, poor, very poor [>2 years behind])
- Any previous EEG results (note advice on ordering EEGs in other useful information section. Generally it is not required to order an EEG for referral. If previous results are available please include with referral)
Desirable Information- will assist at consultation
- Other past medical history
- Immunisation history
- Developmental history
- Medication history
- Significant psychosocial risk factors (especially parents mental health, family violence, housing and financial stress, department of child safety involvement)
- Height/weight/head circumference and growth charts with prior measurements if available
- Other physical examination findings inclusive of CNS, birth marks or dysmorphology
- Any relevant laboratory results or medical imaging reports, urinalysis result
Send Referrals To
Smart Referrals
Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals
Secure Web Transfer
Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District
Internal Referrals
Paediatric Medicine (E-Blueslips)
Fax
(07) 5687 4497
Post
Paediatric Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Enquiries
1300 744 284
Service Availability
Dr Susan Moloney
Medical Director Paediatric Medicine (General Paediatrics)
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.