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.

  • haematemesis
  • haemodynamic instability
  • suspected obstruction/pseudo-obstruction
  • suspected gastric outlet obstruction

Please contact the on-call registrar to discuss your concerns prior to referral.

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

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)

  • achalasia
  • symptomatic para-oesophageal hernia for example, recurrent obstruction/gastric volvulus

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • pharyngeal pouch

Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)

  • gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) with failed first-line management

For information on referral forms and how to import them, please view general referral information.

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
  • medications and allergies
  • presence of unresolved psychological or psychiatric pathologies
  • smoking/alcohol and other drug status
  • age
  • history of presenting complaint:
    • concerning features for example, nausea/vomiting, chest pain, regurgitation, unintentional weight loss
    • duration and frequency of symptoms
    • previous management trialled and efficacy
    • height/weight
    • body mass index (BMI)
  • pathology:
    • complete blood examination (CBE)
    • electrolytes urea and creatinine (UEC)
    • liver function test (LFT)
    • c-reactive protein (CRP)
    • lipase/amylase
  • barium swallow - chest-abdomen computed tomography (CT)
  • reports of prior gastroscopies and pathology results of specimens
  • relevant diagnostic/imaging reports, including location of company and accession number