Asthma

This condition is treated in the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine clinic.

This clinic is for Specialist assessment of patients with life threatening asthma attacks, moderate or severe persistent asthma, patient difficulty with self-management, atypical features and doubt about diagnosis, severe rhinitis, lack of response to treatment, guidance needed re triggers and avoidance.

Emergency Referral Criteria

Criteria for Emergency include: 

Emergency Referral Criteria

• Life threatening severe asthma
• Acute exacerbation of asthma not responding to therapy
• Asthma with any of the following concerning features:
  • coexistent pneumothorax
  • pneumonia
  • silent chest
  • cardiovascular compromise
  • altered consciousness
  • relative bradycardia
  • decreasing rate and depth of breathing

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.

Statewide Referral Criteria (SRC)

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

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

Urgent (Category 1)

• Frequent exacerbations
• Asthma related hospital admission/s in the last 3 months
• Need for oral corticosteroids on more than two occasions per year

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Respiratory Department and/or the relevant doctor for urgent assessment.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

• Moderate or severe persistent asthma
• Atypical features and doubt about diagnosis
• Inadequate asthma control despite optimal treatment
• Asthma with frequent after-hours attendance (ED or after-hours GP) despite optimal treatment

Routine (Category 3)

• Difficulty with self-management

Information to be included in the referral

(Referral may be returned without this)

Essential supporting information

Pathology

• Any relevant

Imaging

• CXR (where indicated/performed)

Investigations/other

• Spirometry pre and post bronchodilator

Additional information

• Approximate age at diagnosis
• Duration and severity of symptoms (breathlessness, chest tightness, wheezing and cough)
• Frequency of exacerbations
• Management including:
  • current medications (including complete list of all patient's medications)
  • previously tried respiratory medications
  • compliance with treatment
• Oral corticosteroids use/need
• Allergies
• Family history
• Smoking status

Interim/GP management

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

• Smoking cessation, identify and avoid or control trigger factors
• Education about illness, inhaler technique
• Provision of an asthma management plan
• Annual flu vaccination in patients with severe asthma, see National Vaccination guidelines
• Allergen avoidance

Please see Health Pathways - Asthma Adults/Children pages.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Additional resources

National Asthma Handbook

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 03 6493 6300
Fax: 03 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 1800 636 455 
Fax: 03 6441 5928

Smoking Cessation (nursing service)
Burnie Community Health
11 Jones Street, Burnie
Phone: 03 6477 7350
and
Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 03 6478 5251 or 03 6478 5222
Fax: 03 6441 5928

South

Respiratory Clinic including urgent referrals (please mark as urgent)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 3982

Respiratory Lung Function Testing (technician)
Phone: 03 6166 0042 
Fax: 03 6234 3982

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Phone the CF coordinator via the switchboard on 03 6166 8308

Possible TB (please mark Attention Dr David Stock)
Phone: 03 6166 8438
Fax: 03 6173 0462

Locations:

• Wellington Clinics (Level 10)
• Telstra Building (Level 5 - Cystic Fibrosis Clinic)
• Clarence Integrated Health Centre