Referral to Specialist Clinics
Referring Doctors are asked to use the Victorian State-wide Referral Form (VSRF)
Ballarat Health Services strongly recommends the use of the VSRF for all referrals to this hospital. When incorporated into your software, this form can auto-populate both demographic and clinical information which will assist in the management of your referral. Referrals will be accepted either by:
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GP Hotline Service- Telephone: 03 5320 6800
The hotline is there to assist you with any patient related concerns and to expedite referral and appointment processes by linking you to the most appropriate clinician.
For Urgent Referrals 1-2 weeks
If you have a patient who requires to be seen by one of our specialist clinics URGENTLY (for example the surgical clinic, fracture clinic) please contact the GP Hotline on 5320 6800 to arrange to speak with the appropriate Registrar.
All referrals received by phone will be supported by a written referral to assist with the triage and management of the patient and the referral will be filed in the patient history. Please fax referrals to 5320 4866
Clinical Priority Access Criteria-Specialist Clinics (Outpatient) Triage:
- Urgent Patient seen in 1 – 2 weeks of referral
- 30 Days Patient seen within 30 days of referral
- 90 Days Patient seen within 90 days of referral
- 365 Days Patient seen within 365 days of referral
Referring to Specialist Clinics
Referrals are triaged by medical and/or nursing staff, all efforts are made to arrange appointments based upon the urgency and need. If the triage staff are supplied with the relevant clinical and demographic information, allocating appointments for patients is faster and more likely to suit their needs.
When Referring
Ballarat Health Services strongly recommend that GPs use the Victorian Statewide Referral Form. Please click here to download the VSRF. As most referrals will be faxed, please ensure that any handwriting will be legible and able to withstand the faxing.
If referrals do not contain the above information to enable effective triage, the referral will be returned to the referrer with a request for additional information.
Did Not Attend (DNA) Guidelines
BHS Specialist Clinic adheres to a “Did Not Attend Policy”, this applies when 2 consecutive appointments are missed by the patient. If this occurs the patient will be discharged from the Clinic and a new referral will be required for future appointments. The GP will be advised in writing of this.
Please encourage your patients to notify the Specialist Clinic if their contact details alter.
Discharge Guidelines
Patients should be discharged when the episode of care (usually first visit with 1-2 follow up visits) is complete, or care can be provided in an alternate facility. Ongoing monitoring maybe handed over to the GP along with advice regarding long term care.
Ballarat Health Services do not provide the following services:
- Guidelines for male circumcision in the Victorian public hospital system
- Guidelines for Aesthetic Surgery on the Public Hospital Waiting List
- Immunisation Service
- Infertility Management or treatment
