Hoarseness

This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply with the referral standards and should include:

• History of neck trauma - note signs of trauma
• History of infection
• History of condition
• History of smoking, alcohol
• Past history - Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, GORD, Rheumatoid disease, Pharyngeal/Oesophageal tumour, Lung cancer

Tests

• For Chronic Hoarseness - CXR, FBE, ESR, TFTs if indicated

Interim/GP management

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

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

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.

Emergency

? Hoarseness with known neck trauma

? Stridor with known neck trauma

? Stridor with acute infection

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.

Urgent (Category 1)

• Hoarseness over 4 weeks with infection
• Hoarseness over 4 weeks in a smoker

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454

To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.