​​​​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 – stridor, drooling, breathing difficulty, acute or sudden voice change, severe odynophagia
  • profound dysphagia – inability to manage secretions
  • proven or suspected abscess within the neck (odontogenic, salivary or other deep neck space) or Ludwig’s angina
  • sialadenitis in immunocompromised patients, or facial nerve palsy
  • unilateral facial swelling associated with trismus, swelling in the neck, difficulty in breathing and/or dental sepsis.

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.
  • Salivary gland mass associated with facial nerve weakness, trismus and/or involvement or erosion of external auditory canal.
  • Abnormal imaging where malignancy is suspected.
  • Sudden or rapid change in a previously benign salivary gland mass.
  • Cytological atypia or malignancy on fine needle aspirate (FNA).

Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days.

  • Recurrent sialadenitis.
  • Confirmed pleomorph​​ic adenoma.

Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days.

  • Symptomatic salivary stones and/or recurrent symptoms that respond to non-invasive treatment.
  • Asymptomatic salivary gland stones.
  • Confirmed Warthin’s tumour that is symptomatic and/or other benign salivary gland tumours.

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral.
  • Details of the presenting condition, including symptoms and their frequency, severity and previous treatment.
  • Provisional diagnosis.
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions), including specifically:
    • history of skin cancer removal from the head and neck region
    • smoking history (for Warthin’s tumour)
    • family history of relevant autoimmune conditions (systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome)
    • examination findings at time of referral (including site of mass)
    • ultrasound and/or CT results (include copy of result, test location and date)
    • fine needle aspirate (FNA) biopsy results (include copy of result, test location and date) (as appropriate).

If available

  • 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 willing to have surgery (where clinically relevant).
  • 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.

Contact us

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