Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - Newly diagnosed symptomatic thyrotoxicosis with T4 and/or T3 >2x normal
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Diabetes and Endocrinology · Refer Your Patient
Thyroid enlargement / thyroid nodules
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Thyroid enlargement / thyroid nodules.
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Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - Diffuse goitre, multi-nodular goitre or solitary nodule without; - unexplained hoarseness or voice changes associated with a goitre - goitre associated with symptomatic airway narrowing - cervical lymphadenopathy associated with a thyroid mass (usually deep cervical or supraclavicular region) - a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass over a period of weeks (a rare presentation of thyroid cancer and usually associated with anaplastic thyroid cancer or thyroid lymphoma) - lymphadenopathy - stridor, venous congestion on elevation of upper limbs - dominant nodule >4cm in size - abnormal cytology *If any of these features, patient should be referred for urgent Thyroid surgeon assessment. - Persistent mild (T4/T3 <2x normal) or subclinical (normal T4/T3 with TSH <0.3) hyperthyroidism - Surveillance of treated thyroid cancer
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.
- USS, including prior imaging results if available - Cytology - TFTs – free T4, T3 and TSH
Out of scope / wrong door
The following conditions are out of scope for this service: - Pre-diabetes - Stable, well-controlled type 2 diabetes - Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and not acutely unwell - Referrals where the primary problem requiring attention is not directly related to the diabetes and should be directed to another speciality service e.g. chest pain for investigation should go to cardiology - Dietary advice for weight reduction, high cholesterol, hypertension or CVD in patients with diabetes - Newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism, including subclinical hypothyroidism – Note: in women of child bearing age who are pregnant or wishing to become pregnant or not using contraception, thyroxine should be commenced and titrated, aiming for a TSH less than 2.5 - Positive thyroid antibodies with normal thyroid function - Osteopaenia - Routine uncomplicated osteoporosis
Parent service: Diabetes and Endocrinology
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
HealthPathways
Sign in for localised assessment and management. HealthPathways does not send the referral. Register: gchealthpathways@health.qld.gov.au