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Respiratory and Sleep Medicine · Refer Your Patient
Sleep disordered breathing (suspected or confirmed)
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Sleep disordered breathing (suspected or confirmed).
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Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - Suspected or confirmed sleep apnoea with any of the following:
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥ 16 [https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/multimedia/clinical-calculator/epworth-sleepiness-scale-ess]
- frequent episodes of impairment when driving due to sleepiness or inattention (multiple per week)
- MVA or work related accident due to sleepiness or inattention in the last 12 months
- unstable cardiovascular disease e.g. severe cardiomyopathy (EF <25%)
- Sleep Disordered Breathing in pregnancy (associated with poor maternal and foetal outcomes)
- Suspected or confirmed sleep hypoventilation with any of the following:
- Progressive neuromuscular disorder
- Established daytime hypercapnia or hypoxemia (as demonstrated on ABG if performed)
- Diagnostic study with significant sleep hypoxaemia (total sleep time at oxygen saturation ≤90% of ≥20%)
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - Suspected or confirmed sleep apnoea with any of the following clinical features:
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale score 12-15 [https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/multimedia/clinical-calculator/epworth-sleepiness-scale-ess]
- Episodes of impaired driving due to sleepiness or inattention (at least several per month)
- Recent accident or near-miss events while driving (in last 12 months)
- Significant comorbidities that may be affected by sleep disordered breathing such as pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, significant cardiac arrhythmias or significant neurological disease (for example unstable seizures)
- Diagnostic sleep study demonstrating any of the following:
- Respiratory Disturbance Index of ≥ 30 respiratory events per hour
- Sleep hypoxaemia (total sleep time at oxygen saturation ≤90% of 10-20%)
- High probability of sleep apnoea and major surgery planned
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - Suspected or confirmed sleep apnoea that does not meet criteria for Category 1 or 2 but still requires specialist review
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- Full report (including all pages) from all previous sleep studies (if performed)
- Previous management (mandibular advancement splint, CPAP) and response and reports of usage (if available)
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale score [https://www.merckmanuals.com/medical-calculators/EpworthSleepScale.htm]
- Occupation
- Driving licence class(es) (C | LR | HR | MR | HC | MC)
- History of motor vehicle accidents or sleepiness/inattention when driving
If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.
Out of scope / wrong door
The following conditions are out of scope for this service:
- Chest pain without abnormalities on CT chest
- Occupational lung screening
- Direct screening for TB – should be referred to contact and immigration screening (regional Tuberculosis control centre)
- Pleural plaques
Parent service: Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
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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