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Rheumatology · Refer Your Patient
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Giant Cell Arteritis/Temporal Arteritis.
Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - Suspected new onset and/or active Giant Cell Arteritis Note: Discuss all cases immediately by phone with local Rheumatology service (or General physician/Emergency/Virtual Emergency Care Service) to facilitate access to temporal artery biopsy given clinical outcome could be time sensitive.
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - Stable Giant Cell Arteritis on treatment
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - No category 3 criteria
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- Relevant history: - with age of onset of symptoms greater than 50 years, - onset and time since onset of headaches, visual disturbance, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness - Details of treatments offered, glucocorticoids initial dose, tapering and current dose and/or DMARDS (if available) - Confirmation that the case has been discussed acutely - FBC, E/LFT, ESR and CRP
- There are currently no out of scope conditions for this service.
Parent service: Rheumatology
Sign in for localised assessment and management. HealthPathways does not send the referral. Register: gchealthpathways@health.qld.gov.au