Useful Management Information

  • Referring doctor must assess immediate risk of driving and provide appropriate counselling based on Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines (including avoiding driving altogether if necessary).

Clinician resources

Patient resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Category 1
  • Suspected or confirmed sleep apnoea with any of the following:
    • Epworth Sleepiness Scale  score ≥ 16
    • dozing while driving at least 1-2/month
    • MVA or work-related accident related to sleepiness/inattention in last 12 months
    • unstable cardiovascular disease e.g. overt heart failure
  • Suspected or confirmed sleep hypoventilation with any of the following:
    • progressive neuromuscular disorder
    • established daytime hypercapnia (as demonstrated on ABG (if performed))
    • diagnostic sleep investigation demonstrating mean sleep saturation 85-90% (Mean sleep saturation <85% should ideally be seen within 2 weeks)
Category 2
  • Suspected or confirmed sleep apnoea with any of the following:
    • Epworth Sleepiness Scale  score 12-15
    • dozing while driving in last 12 months
    • MVA or work-related accident related to sleepiness/inattention in last 5 years
    • occupation involving driving / heavy machinery operation
    • significant comorbidities for example pulmonary hypertension, previous stroke, heart failure,
    • significant cardiac arrhythmias, neurological disease, acromegaly or hypothyroidism
    • Respiratory Disturbance Index of ≥ 30 respiratory events per hour on a diagnostic sleep investigation
Category 3
  • Suspected or confirmed sleep disorders, including chronic insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias or sleep related movement disorders that do not meet criteria for Category 1 or 2 but still require specialist review

If your patient doesn't meet the minimum referral criteria

  • 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

  • History of sleep disorder including duration and severity of symptoms, snoring, witnessed apnoeas, restless sleep, unrefreshing sleep, tiredness, inappropriate falling asleep
  • Management to date including any previously tried appliances (mandibular advancement splint, CPAP) and response
  • Current medications
  • Epworth Sleepiness Scale  score
  • Full report from all previous sleep investigations (if already performed)
  • Occupation
  • Driving license type
  • History of motor vehicle accidents or sleepiness/inattention when driving

If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

  • No additional referral information
Published 12 May 2021

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Not available

Internal Referrals

Not available

Fax

Not available

Post

Not Available

Enquiries

Not available

Service Availability

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina 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.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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