Referral guidelines
Referral guidelines contain condition-based information for GPs about when to refer a patient, assessment and management measures that should be taken prior to submitting a referral, and what should be included in a referral to the relevant outpatient department or specialist service.
Our referral guidelines aim to help GPs decide which tests and treatments are appropriate for their patients based on their presenting symptoms and previous medical history. Consulting the relevant referral guideline before a patient is referred on to a specialist service may mean that an appointment can be booked sooner and the outcome of their consultation is more conclusive. It can also eliminate the need to refer a patient where preliminary tests rule out the need for specialist intervention.
The information contained within our referral guidelines has been developed in collaboration with specialist medical professionals. They are intended to support referring GPs and are in no way intended to replace their professional medical judgement.
Search for referral guidelines below by entering condition, guideline title or keyword
| Referral guidelines |
|---|
Abnormal movements, tics or unsteadiness twitch |
Abnormal pupil reaction or size visual, dark, light, eyes, focus |
Abnormal red reflex (or white reflex) eye, cornea, retina, yellow, black, dim, brightness |
Allergic rhinoconjunctivities (hay fever) blocked, nose, running, eyes, allergies, pollens, watering, itching, sneezing |
Behavioural problems in child under 6 years behaviour, misbehaviour, disorders, problems, social, actions, mood |
cyst, eyelid, eye, inflammation, painless, inflamed |
Chronic rhinosinusitis/nasal congestion nose, pain, pressure, infection |
gluten, diet, serology |
refractive, squint, see, sight, eye, visual, impairment, fatigue |
Developmental and learning difficulties child development, CDS, red flags, developmental progression, milestones, speech and language, cognition, learning, attention, fine and gross motor, social, emotional, play, behaviour, self-care |
progress, develop, skills, loss, |
abdominal pain, vomiting, consciousness, weight loss, tiredness, |
Dientamoeba fragilis and blastocystis SPP Gastrointestinal, stool, pcr, testing, management |
seizure, neurological, recurrent |
bleeding, septal wall, recurrent, infection, nasal, nose |
hypotonia, weakness, muscle, breathing, swallowing |
pain, head, neck |
Hepatitis C diagnosis and management of the newborn hcv, infection |
Sore throat |
Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear duct) sticky, eyes, nose, watery, swelling |
lymph, infection, head |
Obstructive adenotonsillar hyperplasia/sleep apnoea tired, chronic, arousals, restlessness, bed |
ear, infection, water, canal, contamination, scratching, wet |
Pale stools in neonates and infants stool, dark, urine, abnormal, colour, obstruction, bile |
head, ear, pain, discharge, hearing, loss, ruptured, eardrum |
Persistent otitis media with effusion (OME)/’glue ear’ hearing, aching, middle ear |
flattening, infact, head, shape, moulding, skull, flat |
Recurrent bacterial otitis media acute, respiratory, tract, infection, inflammation, smoke, |
sore, throat, tender, lymph nodes, fever |
height, growth, nutrition, hormone, small |
eyes, alignment, aligned, vision, sight, lazy eye |
Suspected neurocutaneous disorder patches, freckling, skin |
