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Direct to an emergency department for:

  • Rapidly progressive neurological symptoms leading to weakness or imbalance.

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

  • Focal neuropathy or plexopathy of unclear cause
  • Suspected peripheral neuropathy
  • Persistent, unexplained sensory symptoms
  • Suspected or confirmed multiple sclerosis
  • Suspected or confirmed motor neurone disease.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided

  • History of symptoms, including distribution and timing
  • Current and previous imaging results
  • Details of any previous neurology assessments or opinions.

Provide if available

  • Examination findings
  • Any nerve conduction study results
  • Full blood examination
  • Liver function tests
  • Fasting blood glucose level
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein
  • Thyroid stimulating hormone levels
  • Vitamin B12 and folate test results
  • Anti-double-stranded DNA test
  • Protein electrophoresis of serum
  • Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV results
  • If symptoms are thought to be linked to probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection or Long COVID.

Additional comments

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

Referrals for confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome should be directed to a surgical service.

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

Not applicable.