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Post Acute Programs · Refer Your Patient
Physiotherapy
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Physiotherapy.
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Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. Intervention within 3-5 working days
- Hospital discharges following an acute admission where there is a moderate to high risk of readmission or requires intervention to prevent rapid deterioration in health status and/or physical functioning
- Post-acute orthopedic referrals e.g. THR/TKR, MUA, #NOF, #NOH, ACL, Rot cuff repair
- Post-acute neurosurgical referral
- Acute respiratory conditions requiring urgent intervention
Intervention within 6-14 working days
- Non urgent post-acute referrals
- Post inpatient / outpatient rehab admission, i.e., progression exercises / HEP
- Recent cortisone injection
- Progression mobility
- High falls risk
- Musculoskeletal pain / injury past 6 weeks
- Risk of adverse outcome if intervention not provided in 2 weeks
- Vestibular referrals
Intervention within 15-29 working days
- Recent diagnosis or exacerbation of neurological condition
- Moderate falls risk
- Soft tissue injury / pain > 6 weeks
- Breathing pattern disorders
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - No category 2 criteria
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - No category 3 criteria
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- Patient Consent to referral
- Reason for Referral
- Name of Patients Consultant (where relevant)
- Relevant medical history pertaining to condition
- Comorbidities impacting on condition
- If Orthopaedic – Current weight bearing status / Plan of weight bearing status, (e.g. TWB for 4/52, then PWB for 2/52 etc.)
- Medically or Specialist determined restrictions of movement or function
- Relevant Xray’s, Scan/Imaging reports
- Relevant Current Medication list
- Allergies and Adverse Reactions
- Social History
- Do you have any concerns regarding the patient exercising?
- List of all health care providers involved in patient care – including public and provide providers
Out of scope / wrong door
- Patients under 18 years of age
- Workcover patients
- Patients residing in a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF)
- Patients accessing NDIS
- From 1 November, 2025 - Patients accessing Levels 4 to 8 - Support @ Home Programme package through My Aged Care (MAC)
- Prior to 1 November, 2025- Patients accessing Level 3 or 4 Home Care Package through My Aged Care (MAC)
- DVA Gold Card Holders
- Patients currently receiving inpatient services including HITH or GEMITH
- Do not provide services in conjunction with GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement
NB: Individual services within the Post Acute suite can consider accepting the above patients on a case-by-case basis
Social Work:
- Patients who are experiencing acute homelessness
- Patients who are experiencing financial hardship that is urgent in nature
- Patients with no decision making capacity
- Patients accessing Specialist Palliative Care Services-Community
- Patients requiring completion/filling out of paperwork
- Acute Mental Health conditions
- Acute Elder Abuse
- Domestic and Family Violence (DFV), Sexual Assault
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Relationship and family counselling
Physiotherapy:
- Referrals for ongoing care for a chronic condition are not eligible
- Patients currently being seen by a private Physiotherapist are not eligible
- Patients accessing Physiotherapy through Community providers
Dietetics:
- Patients seeking Antenatal care
- Patients accessing an Eating Disorder Management and Treatment Plan
- Head and Neck Cancer (non-palliative)
Occupational Therapy:
- Driving Assessments
- Vascular Intervention
- NDIS Access Request Reports
- Acute Hand Management
- Splints
Speech Pathology:
- Patients currently accessing speech pathology outpatient services
- Therapy of communication impairments secondary to aphasia, cognitive communication impairments, dysarthria and apraxia of speech: Forward referrals to Speech Pathology Service, Communication Outpatients, Gold Coast University Hospital - Tel. 5687 3001
- Assessment and therapy of voice disorders: Forward referrals to Speech Pathology Service, Voice Outpatients, Robina Hospital – Tel. 5668 5962; Fax 5668 6685
- Assessment and implementation of LSVT program for Parkinson’s disease patients (individualised): Forward referrals to Speech Pathology Service, Outpatient LSVT Clinic, Robina Hospital – Tel. 5668 5969
Parent service: Post Acute Programs
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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