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This page contains information for general practitioners on how to refer patients aged 16 years and over to Urology services at Mater Hospital Brisbane.
The Urology Service accepts referrals for patients residing within the Brisbane region and for patients in regional and rural areas via the Urology Outreach service. The Urology Service integrates with other specialties including Medical and Radiation Oncology, Radiology and Pathology at weekly multidisciplinary meetings where individualised plans of care are developed for complex patients. As part of the comprehensive service offered, Urodynamic studies can be performed at Mater Hospital Brisbane following Urology Consultant review.
The Urology Outreach Service is staffed by highly trained clinical nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Medical staff. Patients are assessed via comprehensive phone assessments, their cases presented to Mater Urologists and treatment plans are developed which are then communicated back to the patient and referring practitioner. Only if clinically required does that patient have to attend the Mater Hospital Brisbane for face to face assessment and surgical intervention.
The Urology service also has a dedicated Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse and a Bladder Cancer Clinical Nurse consultant. These dedicated roles provide education, assessment, telephone follow up, discharge planning and linkage to supports to patients and their families affected by Prostate and Bladder Cancers
The Urology service team also comprises of two Nurse Practitioners who offer specific specialisation The rapid access and treatment Stones Service Nurse Practitioner assesses, arranges emergency transfer (as required), educates and provides follow up. The Lower Urinary Tract Symptom (LUTS) Nurse Practitioner specialises in LUTS. The NP provides education, lifestyle and behavioural advice and treatment to this complex patient cohort.
This service is unable to accept referrals for vasectomies and provides a limited service only for erectile dysfunction and fertility referrals. Patients should be advised of alternative options for these services.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Category 1 – urgent
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days
Category 2 - Priority
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days
Category 3 - Routine
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days
Urgent Phone Assessment
Bladder Tumour NOT confirmed as cancer
No category 2 criteria
No category 3 criteria
Any haematuria in an individual aged >40 years.
Haematuria in an individual aged < 40 years with abnormal cytology or urinary tract ultrasound that suggests malignancy:
In the absence of urinary tract infection or other obvious benign cause, or persists despite maximum medical treatment i.e. antibiotics
Haematuria in an individual <40 years with:
If decline in GFR or proteinuria, refer to Nephrologist
Suspected malignant mass
Bladder outlet obstruction
Haematuria or sterile pyuria
Elevated post-void residuals (> 300mls) and hydronephrosis on USS and/or altered renal function
Known or suspected neurogenic bladder
Suspected urogenital fistulae
Incontinence requiring multiple (> 2) pad changes per day
Nocturnal incontinence
Post-void residual > 100ml
Associated faecal incontinence
Moderate to severe pelvic organ prolapse
Incontinence requiring 1-2 pad changes per day and any of the following:
Abnormal USS suggestive of urinary tract tumour or suspicion of malignancy
Severe irritative symptoms
Haematuria and/or sterile pyuria
Acute urinary retention post IDC insertion
Known or suspected neurogenic bladder and/or neurological symptoms
USS suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction
Bladder stones
Elevated post-void residuals > 100ml
Suspected or proven urethral stricture and/or urethral diverticulum
Acute change in long-term catheter
Persistent or progressive symptoms despite maximal medical management
Previous incontinence/prolapse/pelvic surgery and/or pelvic radiation/ malignancy
Recurrent UTI (> 3 per year)
Persisting bladder or urethral or perineal pain
Socially limiting (severe)
Failed physiotherapy/continence nurse management
Failed anti-cholinergic and beta3 adrenergic agonist therapy
Medical Management
Abnormal USS suggestive of urinary tract tumour
Elevated post-void residuals and hydronephrosis on USS and/or altered renal function
Severe irritative symptoms and any of the following:
New elevated PSA> 10ng/ml
Recurrent UTI (> 1 per year)
Elevated post-void residuals > 200ml
Suspected or proven urethral stricture
Incontinence
Elevated PSA < 10ng/ml
Suspected or symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy or prostatomegaly
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General referral information MSU M/C/S results USS urinary tract results PSA history ELFT FBC results Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Optional f:t PSA history (if available) Family history of prostate cancer Bladder chart and the international prostate symptom score sheet Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Medical Management Repeat PSA in 4-6 weeks if elevated ELFT FBC MSU Bladder chart and the international prostate symptom score USS urinary tract Clinical resources International prostate symptom score sheet (I-PSS) Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
PSA > 10ng/ml
Radiological imaging indicative of ureteric obstruction
Palpable or suspicious nodule
Increasing/elevated age-related PSA on 2 or more interval specimens or >0.7ng/ml/year in men aged <75 years
Imaging showing any of the following:
Imaging showing angiomyolipoma < 4cm
*Not necessary for penile cancer/tumour or phimosis conditions
Medical management
For erectile dysfunction:
Intermittent testicular pain suggestive of intermittent testicular torsion and/or
Haematospermia
Foreskin phimosis
Penile discharge or lesions or ballanitis (excluding genital warts)
Painful swollen testis/epididymis provided testicular cancer has been excluded
Erectile dysfunction not responding to maximal medical management and/or
Peyronie’s disease causing functional impairment or pain and/or
Chronic testicular pain
Foreskin phimosis, provided no obstructed vomiting
Other foreskin abnormalities (frenum breve, scarring and tearing)
Proven calculi in ureter and any of the following:
Proven calculi in kidney and any of the following:
All staghorn stones
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General referral information MSU M/C/S results USS urinary tract results Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) ELFT results STI screen results Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Medical Mangement MSU STI screen if appropriate Antibiotics USS and post-void residual Consider urinary alkalising agent ural/cranberry juice Consider alpha blockers if high residual volume with benign prostatism in men Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Medical Mangement
Recurrent (women > 3 per year, men > 1 per year) or persistent UTI with abnormal urinary tract USS e.g. hydronephrosis, stones, scarring, soft tissue lesion
Recent history (3 months) of admission for severe urinary tract sepsis
Recurrent (women > 3 per year, men > 1 per year) or persistent UTI and any of the following:
Recurrent UTI (women > 3 per year, men > 1 per year)
Mater Health offers patients the opportunity to attend bulk billed clinics. To provide your patient with the opportunity to attend a bulk billed clinic, please provide a named referral to one of the specialists listed above.
If you would like to discuss a referral, including clinical criteria, or update the status of a current patient please contact our priority GP phone line on 07 3163 2200 .
We provide up to date data on how long patients are waiting for their first appointment by specialty here.
These Mater Referral Guidelines align with standardised best practice tools for referral to publicly funded specialist outpatient services developed in Queensland through the Clinical Prioritisation Criteria project.
Content last updated: 13 December 2023
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