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Neurosurgery
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for the assessment and management of adult and paediatric neurosurgical conditions.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North
Launceston General Hospital (Level 3)
All referrals and queries are to be directed to:
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9941
North West
All referrals and queries are to be directed to:
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9941
South
Liverpool Clinics (Level 7)
All referrals and queries are to be directed to:
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9941
Emergency conditions
Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list):
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage
- Benign or malignant tumours associated with midline shift, hydrocephalus or severe deficits
- Spinal cord compression with severe or rapidly progressive deficit and/or cauda equina signs/symptoms
- Blocked or infected VP shunt
- Mass lesion (tumour or abscess) on CT or suspected, with headache with increasing drowsiness, increasing weakness or vomiting
- Spine # (unstable or suspected unstable) or with neurological deficit
- Significant head Injury
Phone the Neurosurgery Registrar on call via Royal Hobart Hospital switch 03 6166 8308
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
Do not refer the following conditions to Neurosurgery:
- Non-emergency low back pain, with or without lower limb pain/neurology (see Back Assessment Clinic)
- Degenerative spinal disorders with minimal or no neurological deficit
- Occipital neuralgia
Note:
- Smoking cessation is strongly encouraged for any patient referred for surgery.
- All surgery is performed at the Royal Hobart Hospital, but post-operative rehabilitation may occur in the Launceston General Hospital or North West Regional Hospital.
- All new patients and previous patients with a new condition may be seen at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital and North West Regional Hospital for their initial appointment.
Referral process
A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the referral standards. eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service and is available in All regions. Please refer via HealthLink SmartForm eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see the creating an eReferral quick guide.
Specific requirements are detailed in the individual clinic and condition referral guidelines.
Appointments are based on clinical priority.
The times to assessment may vary depending on size and staffing of the hospital department.
Urgent cases must be discussed with the Neurosurgery Registrar on call to obtain appropriate prioritisation and then a referral letter faxed to 03 6173 0491.
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Clinic appointments
Urgent (Category 1)
Urgent cases must be discussed with the Neurosurgery Registrar on call to obtain appropriate prioritisation and a referral faxed to 03 6173 0491
We will try to see these patients within 30 days, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
We will try to see these patients within 90 days, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Routine (Category 3)
Next available appointment. We will try to see these patients within 365 days.
Additional information
For more information, please see Tasmanian HealthPathways.
