Dyspnoea (undifferentiated breathlessness)

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

Pre-referral work-up

History

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

• Smoking status
• Co morbidities and past history
• Current and past medications
• General medical history including risk factors for coronary disease, thromboembolic disease
• Description of the provoking and relieving factors and accompanying symptoms

Tests

Pathology:

• FBE
• U&E
• LFT

Imaging:

• CXR

Investigations:

• Pulse oximetry
• ECG
• Spirometry (if available)

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.

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

• Initial/interim management will depend on the suspected underlying pathology
• A trial of inhaled therapy would be appropriate if asthma or COPD is confirmed on lung function testing
• Smoking Cessation program
• See Health Pathways Dyspnoea page

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Quit advice http://www.quit.org.au/

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

Clinical judgement

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)

Uncertain diagnosis with severe symptoms

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks.

Patients with suspected lung cancer will be seen within one week.

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 dyspnoea (e.g. too breathless to leave the house or breathless when dressing/undressing

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