Useful Management Information

  • An EEG should be performed only to support a diagnosis of epilepsy in children and young people
    • If an EEG is considered necessary, it should be performed after the second epileptic seizure but may, in certain circumstances, as evaluated by the specialist, be considered after a first epileptic seizure
    • An EEG should not be performed in the case of probable syncope because of the possibility of a false-positive result
    • The EEG should not be used to exclude a diagnosis of epilepsy in a child, young person or adult in whom the clinical presentation supports a diagnosis of a non-epileptic event
  • Encourage parents to keep diaries of events and video an event if possible
  • 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
  • In the majority of cases it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment
  • 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.

Clinician Resources

Patient Resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • All children with recent onset of recurrent clinically obvious seizures
  • Unstable epilepsy requiring re-evaluation and management
  • A child:
    • at risk of entering the child protection system (0 – 18 years of age)
    • currently in out of home care (OOHC) (0 – 18 years of age), or
    • Adolescents transitioning to adult healthcare following an out of home care experience (15 – 25 years of age)
    • where they have previously been on a waiting list for this problem and were removed without receiving a service

Children who have been seen by a consultant in emergency with a first seizure may not require a general paediatric review. Most children seen in emergency following an uncomplicated first seizure will be discharged when stable and specialist follow up should be arranged by their GP if required. Investigation and treatment may only be indicated if there is seizure recurrence.

Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Known epilepsy transferring care from another health service and requires 2 medications to control epilepsy or has poor control of epilepsy
  • Children with episodes that may be suggestive but are not conclusively epilepsy
  • Child with an uncomplicated first seizure seen in the Emergency Department where a specialist opinion is requested
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Known epilepsy with stable management who are transferring care

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

  • Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Essential Referral Information

  • Detailed seizure description, duration, frequency, date of onset
  • Associated problems such as cyanosis or injuries during events
  • Details of current medications used to control epilepsy, if any
  • Report presence or absence of concerning features:
    • Headaches
    • Focal seizures
    • Personality change
    • Polyuria or polydipsia
    • Recent change in sleep behaviour
    • Recent onset of clumsiness or poor coordination,
    • Unexplained vomiting
  • Confirmation of out of home care (OOHC) (where approriate)

Additional Referral Information

Highly desirable Information – may change triage category

  • Additional history of events including post event drowsiness, incontinence or injuries during events
  • Past treatments/medications offered and efficacy Including previous acute anticonvulsant management
  • Other neurological or development conditions present
  • Either:
    • current developmental status (age appropriate, some delay, significant delay) OR
    • brief comment on current school educational attainments (good, average, poor, very poor [>2 years behind])
  • Any previous EEG results (note advice on ordering EEGs in other useful information section. Generally it is not required to order an EEG for referral. If previous results are available please include with referral)

Desirable Information- will assist at consultation

  • Other past medical history
  • Immunisation history
  • Developmental history
  • Medication history
  • Significant psychosocial risk factors (especially parents mental health, family violence, housing and financial stress, Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services 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
Last updated 2 December 2024

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Paediatric Medicine (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

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

Enquiries

1300 744 284

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Susan Moloney
Medical Director Paediatric Medicine (General Paediatrics)

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.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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