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Shortness of breath / dyspnoea without a known cause

ADULT

Minimum Referral Criteria

  • Category 1
    (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Category 2
    (appointment within 90 calendar days)
    • Unexplained chronic dyspnoea of uncertain origin
  • 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 not otherwise accessible to the patient
  • For advice regarding management
  • To engage in an ongoing shared care approach between primary and secondary care
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)

2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this

  • Details and timeline of symptoms including variability and severity
  • Relevant medical conditions
  • CXR
  • Smoking and occupational history if relevant

3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral

  • FBC, ELFT, ESR, TFT results
  • Lung function pre and post bronchodilator
  • ECG
  • Sputum M/C/S if productive cough
  • Other relevant imaging
  • Pulse oximetry

4. Request

Last updated: 13 June 2023