Murmur (Cardiology)
Paediatric

Paediatric Cardiology

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Emergency Referrals

Useful Management Information

If structural heart disease is suspected an echocardiogram should be arranged
If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services: Department of Children, Youth Justice, and Multicultural Affairs
Statement of intent – the prioritisation of health services for children and young people in the child protection system
Clinical urgency is the dominant consideration in the prioritisation of a referral for a child currently in out of home care (OOHC), or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC
In the majority of cases, it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)	Asymptomatic murmur in a baby from birth to 3 months Asymptomatic murmur at any age in association with acute rheumatic fever Children already diagnosed with a condition with known cyanosis or heart failure A child currently in out of home care (OOHC) or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC, where they have previously been on a waiting list for this problem and were removed without receiving a service
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)	Asymptomatic murmur in a child aged from 4 months to 2 years Murmur at any age with a past history of rheumatic fever
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)	Asymptomatic murmur in a child over 2 years old

Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)

Asymptomatic murmur in a baby from birth to 3 months
Asymptomatic murmur at any age in association with acute rheumatic fever
Children already diagnosed with a condition with known cyanosis or heart failure
A child currently in out of home care (OOHC) or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC, where they have previously been on a waiting list for this problem and were removed without receiving a service

Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)

Asymptomatic murmur in a child aged from 4 months to 2 years
Murmur at any age with a past history of rheumatic fever

Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)

Asymptomatic murmur in a child over 2 years old

Standard Referral Information

Reason for request

To establish a diagnosis
For treatment or intervention
For advice and management
For specialist to take over management
Reassurance for GP/second opinion
For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
Reassurance for the patient/family
For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
Physical findings
Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
Body mass index (BMI)
Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
Current medications and dosages
Drug allergies
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Patient's Demographic Details

Full name (including aliases)
Date and country of birth
Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
Medicare number (where eligible)
Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
Preferred language and interpreter requirements
Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

Full name
Full address
Contact details – telephone, fax, email
Provider number
Date of referral
Signature
Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

Essential Referral Information

Physical findings including colour assessment or oxygen saturation
Report presence or absence of the following:
- history of exercise intolerance
- cyanotic episodes or blue spells
- weak or absent femoral pulses
- clubbing
Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate)

Additional Referral Information

Highly desirable information – may change triage category

Known other congenital abnormalities
Family history of congenital cardiac disease
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or Māori status (acute rheumatic fever / rheumatic heart disease risk)

Desirable information- will assist at consultation

Other past medical history
Immunisation history
Developmental history
Medication history
Significant psychosocial risk factors (especially parent’s mental health, family violence, housing and financial stress, department of child safety involvement)
Height/weight/head circumference and growth charts with prior measurements if available
Other physical examination findings inclusive of CNS, birth marks or dysmorphology
Any relevant laboratory results or medical imaging reports, urinalysis result

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Not Available

Secure Web Transfer

Not Available

Internal Referrals

Paediatric Cardiology (E-Blueslips)

Fax

Internal Referrals Only

Post

Paediatric Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

Internal Referrals Only

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

HealthPathways home page

Service Availability

Dr Ben Auld

Medical Director Paediatric Cardiology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Child Safety

If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, contact Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Services . Please consider if mandatory reporting applies.

Murmur (Cardiology)Paediatric