Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

• Constipation in patients with a duration of more than 6 weeks but less than 12 months, with any of the following:
  • > 40 years of age
  • rectal bleeding
  • positive faecal occult blood test
  • weight loss (≥ 5% of body weight in previous 6 months)
  • abdominal or rectal mass
  • iron deficiency that persists despite correction of causative factors
  • patient or family history of bowel cancer (first degree relative < 55 years).

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided

• Onset, characteristics and duration of constipation and sentinel findings
• Current and previous colonoscopy results
• Full blood examination
• Iron studies.

Provide if available

• Current and previous histology results
• Details of any previous gastroenterology assessments or opinions
• Faecal occult blood test
• Thyroid stimulating hormone levels.

Additional comments

The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.

As part of the referral assessment, patients may be triaged to colonoscopy prior to the appointment at a specialist clinic.

Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.

Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for

• Patients with more than 12 months of symptoms, with no sentinel findings, who have not had an adequate trial of treatment.