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Murmur (General Paediatrics)

PAEDIATRIC

Minimum Referral Criteria

  • Category 1
    (appointment within 30 calendar days)
    • Infants < 12 months
    • 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 > 12 months
  • Category 3
    (appointment within 365 calendar days)
    • No category 3 criteria

1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral

  • 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

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • Physical findings including colour assessment or oxygen saturation
  • Report presence or absence of concerning features
    • History of exercise intolerance
    • Cyanotic episodes or blue spells
    • Weak or absent femoral pulses
    • Clubbing
    • Growth weight gain
  • Height/weight/head circumference and growth charts with prior measurements if available.
  • Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate)

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

Highly desirable information – may change triage category.

  • Known other congenital abnormalities
  • Family history of congenital cardiac disease
  • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or Maori status (rheumatic fever risk).

Desirable information- will assist at consultation

  • AN scan 18-20 weeks
  • 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 Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs involvement)
  • Other physical examination findings inclusive of CNS, birth marks or dysmorphology
  • Any relevant laboratory results or medical imaging reports, urinalysis result ASOT/ANTI DNACISE B

4. Request

Last updated: 13 June 2023