Spinal Cord Injury
ADULT
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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.
- Autonomic dysreflexia that does not respond immediately to non-pharmacological strategies or two doses of glyceryl trinitrate (Management of Autonomic Dysreflexia and Autonomic dysreflexia | QSCIS)
- Sepsis due to any cause e.g., urosepsis, pneumonia, pressure injury
- Intra-Thecal Baclofen (ITB) pump malfunctions
- Deteriorating respiratory function, especially in a person with tetraplegia and those requiring ventilation.
- Sudden significant loss of existing neurological function
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- Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management recommendations.
- The Queensland Spinal Injuries Unit at the PAH services all of Queensland. It provides a unique service being the only Spinal Injuries Unit in Australia that provides acute care, primary rehabilitation, transitional rehabilitation, outpatient services and outreach services from the one facility. See the Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service (QSCIS) for more information on these services, management guides and other resources. [3]
- Referring practitioners can complete the Spinal Injuries Unit Non-Acute Outpatient Referral form for referral to Spinal Injuries Unit OPD. However, provided a referral includes all ‘essential referral information’ it is not mandatory to complete this form to access the service.
Request for advice
- GPs may use the Request for Advice (RFA) pathway when patients present with, stable conditions that does not meet criteria for urgent referral. This allows specialist input while supporting ongoing management in primary care and avoiding unnecessary waitlisting.
| Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days) |
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| Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days) |
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| Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days) |
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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
- Level of spinal cord injury
- Date of spinal cord injury
- Relevant medical history: Include any past or ongoing medical conditions
- Bladder management (spontaneous, IDC, SPC, CISC, other)
- Bowel management (relevant aperients)
- Current social situation: Detail the patient’s living arrangements, functional status, any support services in place (e.g., family, carers, funded support services), carer stress or burden if present and any barriers to clinic attendance.
3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral
- Allied health services: Note any current or recent allied health involvement and services provided.
4. Request
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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.)
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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: 5 May 2026
© State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2023
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