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Paediatric Medicine (General Paediatrics) · Refer Your Patient
Joint Pain
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Joint Pain.
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Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - Suspected hip dysplasia in an infant <6 months
- History of joint pain without current arthritis where ARF is considered as a possible diagnosis (if current see as emergency) see ARF CPC [https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cpc/general-paediatrics/rheumatic-heart-disease]
- Evidence of synovitis, arthritis or joint erosion on imaging
- Joint pain with elevated inflammatory markers that are otherwise unexplained
- Joint pain accompanied by symptoms or history of other inflammatory disease, e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, uveitis, new rashes, etc
- Joint deformity / loss of range of movement
- A child:
- at risk of entering the child protection system (0 – 18 years of age)
- currently in out of home care (OOHC) (0 – 18 years of age), or
- Adolescents transitioning to adult healthcare following an out of home care experience (15 – 25 years of age)
- where they have previously been on a waiting list for this problem and were removed without receiving a service
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - Undiagnosed cause of joint or musculoskeletal pain that is not listed in Category 1
- Children with hip pain following orthopaedic consultation and excluding orthopaedic conditions
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - Known chronic musculoskeletal condition that is unlikely to deteriorate
- Joint hypermobility without evidence of underlying connective tissue disorder
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- History of joint symptoms. Note duration, joints or regions involved
- Report presence or absence of concerning features
- Persistent fevers
- Weight loss (how much?)
- Rash
- Diarrhoea or bloody stools
- Abdominal pain
- Focal neurological signs
- Muscle Wasting
- Recent visual symptoms e.g. photophobia, erythema, blurring
- Confirmation of out of home care (OOHC) (where appropriate)
Out of scope / wrong door
The following conditions are out of scope for this service:
- Patients 16 years and over should be referred to the appropriate Adult Outpatient service closest to home.
- Services that should be initially provided by primary care or community based allied health care for children, including well infant care and advice, parenting and behaviour management for young children, developmental services for children with mild developmental delay
- Educational assessment of school-age children
- Gold Coast University Hospital does not offer the following Paediatric specialty services.
- Referrals will be redirected to General Paediatrics for initial assessment, management and consideration of referral for tertiary care at Queensland Children’s Hospital:
- Immunology
- Renal Paediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics (RBWH)
Parent service: Paediatric Medicine (General Paediatrics)
Send outpatient referrals to
- Smart Referrals preferred (Best Practice or Medical Director)
- Medical Objects GQ42150009Z (lookup qh → QHEALTH, GOLD COAST HEALTH OUTPATIENT)
- HealthLink EDI Qldgchsd
- Fax (07) 5687 4497 — Booking and Referral Centre
- Post: Booking and Referral Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport QLD 4215
- Clinic enquiries 1300 559 083
How to refer — full order
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