Referral to emergency
If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
- nil
For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network
- Royal Adelaide Hospital (08) 7074 0000
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0434 363 937
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0434 363 937
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (08) 8222 6000
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0434 921 738
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Lyell McEwin Hospital (08) 8182 9000
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0435 656 943
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0435 656 943
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Flinders Medical Centre (08) 8204 5511
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0434 880 154
- Colorectal Cancer Nurse Consultant 0434 880 154
Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)
- concerns of recurrence of local or distant disease
- imaging suspicious of recurrent disease
- significant new changes to bowel habits
- positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT)
Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)
- nil
Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)
- nil
For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information page.
Essential referral information
Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.
- identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- relevant social history, including identifying if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
- interpreter required
- past medical/surgical history
- family history - specific to bowel cancer, irritable bowel disease, and polyposis
History
- weight loss
- ascites
- bowel symptoms
- bowel habits — constipation, straining, diarrhoea, incomplete rectal emptying
- per rectum bleeding
- pus or mucous
- tenesmus
- presence of rectal bleeding — volume, duration
- medications and allergies
- smoking/alcohol and other drug status
- age
- history of previous diagnosis for high-risk syndrome, or diagnosis and curative treatment provided and outcome, including:
- genetic panel confirmation
- surgery
- chemotherapy/radiotherapy
- relevant diagnostic/imaging reports, including location of company and accession number
- previous colonoscopy reports and histopathology
- relevant letters from clinical genetics regarding recommended surveillance plans
Clinical management advice
Colorectal cancer surveillance plays a vital role in the Australian population, aiding in early detection, improving survival rates, identifying precancerous lesions, tailoring treatment plans, screening for second primary cancers, providing psychological support, and contributing to research and data collection. It is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care for individuals who have had curative surgery or are at high risk due to specific syndromes.
All referrals should be made in alignment with the national health and medical research council (NHMRC) clinical guidelines for surveillance colonoscopy.