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Useful Management Information
- Children under school age (i.e., infants to pre-Prep), who do not have a diagnosis and do not require diagnostic formulation by a team.
- Children with challenges in participating in activities, that is impacted by a developmental difficulty.
- The following are not seen through CDS Occupational Therapy (OT):
- Children with self-care difficulties who are currently undertaking oncology treatment or those in post-oncology treatment should be referred to Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) OT, who provide short term post-acute intervention (e.g., the child’s difficulties are due to a lack of experience/opportunity due to time in hospital, rather than a developmental delay).
- Children whose sensory preferences, or self-care skills are impacted by (or appear to be directly related to) a history of trauma may be more appropriate for other services such as Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) or Evolve. Further information is required before a referral is considered.
- Children whose participation in transitions and routines, is impacted by difficulties that are associated with or explained by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)/Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) will not be accepted.
Other useful information for referring practitioners:
- Toileting:
- Toileting referrals are only accepted for children where it is a high priority for the family.
- General toileting training concerns are not accepted (e.g., 18 month to 36-month-old with no developmental concerns, where parents are starting toilet training).
- Children who have encopresis should be referred to other agencies. These may be a Paediatrician, hospital service, or private practice. Children who have significant constipation should be referred to GCUH continence service.
- Toileting issues related to a medical condition that causes toileting problems such as Hirschprungs should be referred to a medical or hospital service.
- Children who have an upcoming surgical procedure booked such as Malone Antegrade Continence Enema (MACE), Botox, should be referred to GCUH OT toileting service.
- Sleep:
- For sleep concerns the child and family must have already accessed primary health care for support (CHN, GP, parent education, Ellen Barron, EIPs etc). Issues related to anxiety and/or attachment, should be referred to psychology.
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) | Recommended to be seen within 90 - 180 calendar days
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If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
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Essential Referral Information
- Description of the challenges within these tasks/activities (i.e., rather than simply saying ‘difficulties with (toileting/sleep/dressing) describe the difficulties)
- Absence or presence of anxiety and/or diagnoses such as ASD etc.
- For toileting referrals:
- Evidence of a General Practitioner (GP) plan is required for referrals for constipation
- Information on whether the child has encopresis is required.
- For sensory based referrals, please provide information on whether the difficulties appear to be part of a broader issue with anxiety, or possible ASD, as those referrals may be recommended to be seen by an alternate care pathway
Additional Referral Information
Highly desirable information – may change triage category
- What strategies have already been tried in relation to transitions and routines.
- Provide reports from childcare/kindy in relation to the child’s performance in routines in these environments
Send Referrals To
Smart Referrals
Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals
Secure Web Transfer
Send to: Gold Coast Child Community Health MO Account: GQ4215000TL HL EDI: qldcomch
Internal Referrals
Fax
(07) 5687 4497
Post
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Enquiries
(07) 5687 9141
Service Availability
Dr Francoise Butel
Medical Director Children's Community Health
Facilities
Gold Coast University Hospital
Southport Health Precinct
Palm Beach Community Health Centre
Helensvale Community Health Centre
Upper Coomera Child Health
Early Years Centre Coomera Springs
Norfolk Village State School Health & Education Hub
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.