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Cancer Services

Emergency Immediate transfer to the Emergency Department

If any of the following are present or suspected, arrange immediate discussion with on call specialist and/or emergency department.

  • Symptoms of airway obstruction, SVC obstruction
  • Severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Febrile neutropenia
  • Symptomatic hypercalcaemia
  • Other organ failure/dysfunction
  • Uncontrolled and disabling pain
  • Massive haemoptysis and/or stridor
  • Neurological signs suggestive of brain metastases or cord compression
  • Very high calcium (3.0mmol/L)
  • Severe dysphagia with dehydration
  • Biopsy proven small cell lung cancer
    • patients with symptoms of shortness of breath, deteriorating organ function
  • Metastatic germ cell tumour (GCT) confirmed (biopsy) or suspected (tumour markers)
  • Patients with severe symptoms, organ failure or life threatening complications
  • Highly aggressive lymphoma
    • Burkitt’s lymphoma
    • lymphoblastic lymphoma
  • Acute leukaemia

Are you referring to the right service?

Please refer patient with:

  • Thrombotic disorders to Vascular Medicine for initial assessment
  • confirmed melanomas to be referred to Melanoma Clinic
  • non–melanoma skin lesions (SCCs/BCCs/IEC) to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • confirmed or suspected lung cancers to be referred to Respiratory Medicine
  • suspected or unconfirmed to diagnostic group:
    • breast cancer to Breast and Endocrine or General Surgery
    • bowel cancer to Colorectal or General Surgery
    • testicular cancer to Urology
    • head and neck cancer to ENT
  • patient requiring iron transfusions for non-malignant conditions, refer to General Medicine
  • asymptomatic breast screening to Breast Screening Services at the QEII or Redland hospital

For information regarding Gamma Knife, Centre of Queensland, and referrals please visit the Gamma Knife.

Urgent referrals Arranging urgent review

To arrange an urgent review, please phone the relevant hospital’s switchboard and ask to speak to the Registrar of the relevant specialty.

Conditions

Adults

Conditions referred through other specialties

Out of scope services

Metro South Health does not provide services for patients with gynaecological cancers. Please refer these patients directly to the Mater Health’s Gynaecology Oncology Service.

Notes

  • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service.  Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
  • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
  • Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

Out of catchment

Metro South Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service.  If your patient lives outside the Metro South Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

Last updated 17 June 2024