Syncope/pre-syncope
Adult

Cardiology

Useful Management Information

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • New episode(s) of uninvestigated syncope / near syncope without any of the following concerning features
    • Exertional onset
    • Chest pain
    • Persistent hypotension (systolic BP <90mmHg)
    • Severe persistent headache
    • Focal neurological deficits
    • Preceded by or associated with palpitations
    • Known ischaemic heart disease or reduced LV systolic function
    • Associated with SVT or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
    • Evidence of pre-excited QRS (delta waves) on ECG
    • Suspected malfunction of pacemaker or ICD
    • Absence of prodrome
    • Associated injury
    • Occurs while supine
    • Seizure
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Recurrent syncope previously investigated with undetermined cause
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria
  • 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.

Essential Referral Information

  • Description of syncopal/pre-syncopal events including the following:
    • Timeline
    • Precipitating factors
    • Any warning pre-syncopal symptoms
    • Complete LOC or partial
    • Duration of LOC
    • Nature of recovery
    • Witnessed signs
    • Seizures
    • Pallor
    • Incontinence
    • Cyanosis
    • Irregular or absent pulse during attack
    • Associated injury
  • Lying / standing or sitting / standing BP
  • All available ECGs

Additional Referral Information

  • Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
  • Relevant medical history
  • Family history of cardiac disease or sudden cardiac death
  • Holter monitor report (only useful if daily symptoms)
  • Presence of impaired LV function by any imaging modality (MRI, echo or MPS) if known
  • FBC, TSH, ELFTs, magnesium results
  • Echocardiogram report (if available)
  • CXR report
  • History of drug use (including recreational drugs)
Last updated 17 September 2023

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Cardiology (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 Rohan Jayansinghe
Medical Director Cardiology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina 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.

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