​​Emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice via phone to on-call consultant/registrar:

  • acute salivary gland inflammation unresponsive to treatment
  • airway compromise with or without severe stridor, drooling or breathing difficulty
  • profound dysphagia – inability to manage secretions
  • salivary abscess associated with swelling in the neck and/or breathing difficulty
  • sialadenitis in immunocompromised patients, or facial nerve palsy.

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days.
  • Confirmed or suspected tumour or hard mass in the salivary glands.
  • Abnormal imaging where malignancy is suspected.
  • Acute salivary gland inflammation which fails to respond to oral antibiotics within 1 week.

Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days.

  • Pleomorphic adenomas that have been previously investigated and are not growing.​​
  • Symptomatic salivary stones with recurrent symptoms unresponsive to treatment.

Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days.

  • Asymptomatic salivary stones.
  • Recurrent juvenile parotitis.

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral.
  • Details of the presenting condition, including history of symptoms.
  • Provisional diagnosis.
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions), including specifically:
    • examination findings at time of referral (including site of mass)
    • fine needle aspirate (FNA) results (as appropriate)
    • M/C/S results for sialadenitis (as appropriate)
    • ultrasound results.

If available

  • CT scan results.
  • If the patient identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
  • If the patient is considered ‘at risk’ or among a vulnerable, disadvantaged or priority population.
  • If the patient is suitable for virtual care or telehealth.
  • If the patient has special needs or requires reasonable adjustments to be made.
  • If the patient requires an interpreter (if so, list preferred language).

Important information for referring health professionals

If there is a change to a patient’s condition while waiting for their appointment, referring health professionals may further investigate and manage the situation, or send an updated referral to the outpatient service. Where there are significant concerns about a patient's condition, referring health professionals may check HealthPathways for urgent/same day advice or contact the relevant clinical team.

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Current as at: Monday 17 June 2024
Contact page owner: System Purchasing