Head and Neck Cancer

ADULT

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • Cervicofacial infections with deep space and/or acute or potential airway compromise
    • New findings of symptomatic brain metastasis or leptomeningeal disease diagnosed in the community

    Rapid Access Clinics (RACs)

    Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) provide timely specialist assessment for patients with non-emergency but urgent conditions, helping avoid unnecessary emergency department presentations. Patients must be clinically stable. Common referrals include acute flares of chronic conditions, abnormal test results, and mild infections. Referrals are made by calling the on-call service to confirm eligibility and availability.

    Needs sub-acute maxillary assessment (rapid phone call and maxillofacial registrar triaging):

    • Concern for maxillofacial head and neck cancer
      • ­ Oral cavity cancer
      • ­ Jaw Cancer
      • ­ Paranasal sinus cancer
      • ­ Salivary gland cancer
      • ­ Advanced facial skin cancer
      • Cervical lymphadenopathy
    • Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways
    • Assess for head/spinal injuries
    • Contact ophthalmology or neurosurgery as necessary
Minimum Referral Criteria
Category 1
(appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Suspected oral or oropharyngeal malignancy (e.g. persistent ulcer, mass, or mucosal changes)
  • Biopsy proven SCC
  • Rapidly enlarging lesions of the jaw, oral cavity, or facial bones
  • Unexplained head and neck lumps involving the jaw, oral cavity, or facial skeleton –if dental or bony origin suspected
  • Malignant melanoma or suspected skin cancer involving the face, lips, or oral mucosa –if surgical excision or reconstruction is required
Category 2
(appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Salivary gland lumps
  • Sialoadenitis/ Sialolithiasis
Category 3
(appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria

Please insert the below information and minimum referral criteria into referral

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

  • Detailed presenting history, including:
    • Onset, evolution and duration
    • Pain
    • Neurological symptoms
    • Presence of cervical lymphadenopathy
  • Biopsy results, were performed and available
  • FBC, ELFT, ESR
  • Relevant imaging, where available:
    • Ultrasound (USS) and/or CT of the head, neck and other relevant imaging (reports attached)
  • Smoking and alcohol history
  • Relevant past medical history, including prior malignancy
  • Facial nerve evaluation

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

  • FNA of lymph nodes
  • FNA of lump
  • Any other clinically relevant information
  • Any relevant CT, PET scan +/- MRI results
  • A high-quality clinical photograph is highly beneficial for oral lesion referrals and should be included whenever possible to assist triaging

4. Request

  • Patient's Demographic Details

    • Full name (including aliases)
    • Date of birth
    • Residential and postal address
    • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
    • Medicare number (where eligible)
    • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
    • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
    • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

    Referring Practitioner Details

    • Full name
    • Full address
    • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
    • Provider number
    • Date of referral
    • Signature
    • 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
    • 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
    • Current medications and dosages
    • Drug allergies
    • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

    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

    Clinical modifiers

    • Impact on employment
    • Impact on education
    • Impact on home
    • Impact on activities of daily living
    • Impact on ability to care for others
    • Impact on personal frailty or safety
    • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

    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.)

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service.  Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
    • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
    • Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

Last updated: 28 September 2026

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