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Direct to an appropriate emergency department for:

  • Complicated sinus disease with:
    • orbital and / or neurological signs
    • severe systemic symptoms
    • periorbital oedema or erthyema
    • altered visual acuity, diplopia, or reduced eye movement.

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

  • New and persistent unilateral nasal obstruction present for more than four weeks
  • Rhinosinusitis that has not responded to three months of intranasal steroid and nasal lavage treatment.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided:

  • Presence of epistaxis
  • Details of previous medical management including the course of treatment (e.g. intransal steroid, nasal lavage or antibiotics) and outcome of treatment.

Provide if available:

Not applicable.

Additional comments

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

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 headaches who have a normal CT scan which has been performed when the patient has symptoms
  • Patients who have not had three months of intranasal steroid and nasal lavage treatment.