Tiredness/Lethargy

This condition is treated in the General medicine clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include in particular:

• Rapidity of onset
• Symptoms of sleep disorders
• Symptoms of depression
• Associated symptoms (dyspnoea, chest pain, GI bleeding, joint/muscle pain, polyuria or polydypsia or tremor)
• Impact on daily life and work
• Co-morbidities and medications
• * Weight loss or symptoms of malignancy
• * Anaemia
• * Falling asleep while driving
• Examination:
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Presence of goitre or abnormal thyroid examination
  • Signs of cardiac disease
  • Neurological examination

Tests

• FBC
• U&ECr
• Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphate
• TFT
• ESR
• Fasting glucose
• Creatinine Kinase if muscle weakness or pain
• CT chest/abdo/pelvis if lymphadenopathy

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the General Medicine clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

The presence of (*) could indicate a serious condition. Consider phoning the General Physician on call.

Should a blood or iron transfusion be required, please indicate this in the referral and we can arrange this within the Ambulatory Care Centre.  Please advise whether you would like an opinion also OR just the transfusion/infusion.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

None of the general physicians has an interest in chronic fatigue syndrome nor expertise in immunology.

Clinic appointments

? Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Urgent (Category 1)

? Anaemia requiring transfusion: Try to avoid sending patient to Emergency Department. Please contact the General Medicine Team on call to facilitate.

? Rapid unexplained weight loss

We will endeavour to see these patients within two weeks.

Please contact the General Medicine Consultant on-call if you have an urgent case to be reviewed. All referrals viewed by Consultant and allocated to Consultant or Unit Registrar. Registrar cases will be discussed with Consultant.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

Iron infusion. Please indicate this requirement on your referral

Routine (Category 3)

Symptoms over months/years - undulating course

Next available appointment

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital (Level 3)
Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 6493 6300
Fax: 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 1800 636 455 
Fax: 6441 5928

South

Wellington Clinics (Level 10)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 3982