Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

• Chronic or episodic vertigo (e.g. suspected vestibular migraine)
• Vertigo with other neurological symptoms.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided

• Onset, duration, characteristics and frequency of vertigo and associated symptoms.

Provide if available

• Results of diagnostic audiology assessment
• Neuroimaging results
• Details of any previous neurology assessments or opinions
• Results of diagnostic vestibular physiotherapy assessment or Epley manoeuvre
• Description of any of the following:
  • Functional impact of vertigo
  • Any associated otological or neurological symptoms
  • Any previous diagnosis of vertigo (attach correspondence)
  • Any treatments (medication and other) previously tried, duration of trial and effect
  • Any previous investigations or imaging results
  • Hearing or balance symptoms
  • History of middle ear disease or surgery
• History of any of the following:
  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Neck problems
  • Neurological
  • Auto immune conditions
  • Eye problems
  • Previous head injury
  • 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.

Note: there are also cardiology statewide referral criteria for Syncope or pre-syncope and ENT statewide referral criteria for Vertigo.

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 mild or brief orthostatic dizziness
• Dizziness due to a medicine, hypoglycaemia or chronic fatigue syndrome.