Neurology (Adult) Referral Access Criteria
Neurology (Adult) Referral Access Criteria
Patient requires immediate (within 7 days) attention
| Immediate referrals (patient to be seen within 7 days) should be sent directly to the relevant hospital. Do not send immediate referrals via Central Referral Service (CRS). |
Contact the on-call registrar or service to arrange an immediate neurology assessment for:
- Abnormal neurological exam with concerning features, including malignancy or neuroimaging (new onset headache)
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- Rapidly progressing cognitive changes (over weeks)
- Severe/acute trigeminal neuralgia with inability to eat
- Severe symptoms or abrupt onset/deterioration of movement disorder
To contact the relevant service, please see Clinician Assist WA: Acute Neurology Assessment (external site)
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| Neurology (adult) conditions with Referral Access Criteria |
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These conditions are routinely seen by neurology (adult) outpatient services. This is not an exhaustive list of all conditions seen by the outpatient service. Consideration for referral will not be excluded unless the condition is listed on the exclusion list. If the condition you are referring for is not listed, or is unknown, please include details in the body of the referral.
Referrals missing 'mandatory information' with no explanation provided may not be accepted.
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Excluded conditions and services
Exclusions
Referral to public Neurology (adult) outpatient services is not routinely accepted for the following conditions:
| Condition |
Details (where applicable) |
| Acquired brain injury |
Excluded condition when the following features apply:
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| Botulinum therapy for chronic migraine |
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| Certification of a patient’s ability to drive, for private standards, in the presence of a neurological condition |
Excluded condition except in the following circumstances:
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| Chronic headache where standard treatment has not been tried |
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| Chronic low back pain, neck pain or radicular pain; chronic pain or non-specific pain syndromes |
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| Chronic neurological conditions that are well controlled and do not require additional intervention (e.g. chronic epileptic patient on stable drug therapy and no seizures for 10 years) |
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| Cognitive impairment > 65 years old |
- Refer to geriatric medicine or aged care as appropriate.
- Patients whose primary and major diagnosis/symptomatology are alcohol, drug or psychiatry related, consider referral to alcohol and drug service or mental health service as first line.
- See Clinician Assist WA: Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
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| Distal symmetrical painful sensory neuropathy associated with diabetes or alcoholism |
Excluded condition when the following features apply:
- Patients with long history of distal symmetrical painful sensory neuropathy associated with diabetes or alcoholism referred for pain management. Refer to pain management clinic.
- See Clinician Assist WA: Neuropathic Pain
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| Lyme disease or Lyme-like illness |
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| Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
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| Neurological symptoms due to treatment non-adherence (e.g. seizures) |
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| Parkinson’s disease > 65 years old unless referred by specialist |
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| Restless leg syndrome |
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| Small‑fibre neuropathy previously diagnosed by a neurologist |
Excluded condition when the following features apply:
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| Seizures known to relate to drug/alcohol use |
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| Sleep disorders |
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| Syncope |
- Refer to cardiology or general medicine.
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| Tremor of long duration or milder severity |
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| Uncomplicated Bell’s palsy |
Excluded condition for the following:
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| Vertigo with hearing loss |
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| Worker's compensation and medico-legal cases |
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Excluded elective procedures
All elective procedures must meet an identified clinical need to improve the health of the patient. Procedures are not to be performed for cosmetic or other non-medical reasons. Excluded procedures will not be performed unless under exceptional circumstances and where a clear clinical need has been identified. For excluded procedures, the referral must clearly state:
- that the request is for an excluded procedure
- the clinical exception reason as to why it should be considered.
Access the WA Elective Surgery Access and Waiting List Management Policy at WA Health Policy Frameworks.
| Excluded procedure |
Clinical exception reason |
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Nil
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Last reviewed: 05-01-2024