Hepatitis C Virus
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If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
Potentially life-threatening symptoms suggestive of:
- Acute severe GI bleeding
- Acute liver failure: (acutely abnormal liver blood tests in absence of cirrhosis, associated with development of coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy)
- Sepsis in a patient with cirrhosis
- Severe encephalopathy in a patient with liver disease
- New significant renal dysfunction in a patient with cirrhosis
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- Refer to HealthPathways or local guidelines
- Screening and vaccination for Hepatitis A for patients
- Screening and vaccination for Hepatitis B of sexual contacts and immediate family members
- Natural history of disease, transmission risks and precautions
- Lifelong monitoring of disease for hepatocellular cancer screening with USS and AFP if advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis disclosure and treatment options
- Assess for substance ongoing substance use and implement harm minimisation strategies
- Lifestyle modification (increased activity, dietary, weight, smoking, alcohol)
- Consider cessation of alcohol, hepatotoxic medication, herbal preparations, supplements
| Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days) |
|
| Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days) |
NB: Consider alternative referral pathways (local availability) including treatment options in primary care |
| Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days) |
|
Please insert the below information and minimum referral criteria into referral
1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral
- To establish a diagnosis
- For treatment or intervention
- For advice and management
- For specialist to take over management
- Reassurance for GP/second opinion
- For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
- Reassurance for the patient/family
- For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
- Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary
2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this
- General referral information including details of presenting issues
- Comorbidities and past medical history
- Alcohol and medication history (including non-prescription, herbs and supplements)
- Risk factors for viral hepatitis
- Height, weight, and BMI
- FIB-4 (Fib-4 calculator), ELFT, FBC results less than 3 months old
- HBV, HIV, fasting glucose and lipids results
- HCV serology
- Positive HCV RNA qualitative/quantitative and genotype
- Recent upper abdominal ultrasound or CT reports
3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral
- Record of previous liver function tests, liver fibrosis assessment (elastography, direct serum markers), imaging and/or liver biopsy results
4. Request
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Patient's Demographic Details
- Full name (including aliases)
- Date of birth
- Residential and postal address
- Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
- Medicare number (where eligible)
- Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
- Preferred language and interpreter requirements
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Referring Practitioner Details
- Full name
- Full address
- Contact details – telephone, fax, email
- Provider number
- Date of referral
- Signature
Relevant clinical information about the condition
- Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
- Physical findings
- Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
- Current medications and dosages
- Drug allergies
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
Reason for request
- To establish a diagnosis
- For treatment or intervention
- For advice and management
- For specialist to take over management
- Reassurance for GP/second opinion
- For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
- Reassurance for the patient/family
- For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
- Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary
Clinical modifiers
- Impact on employment
- Impact on education
- Impact on home
- Impact on activities of daily living
- Impact on ability to care for others
- Impact on personal frailty or safety
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Other relevant information
- Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
- Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
- Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)
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If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service. Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.
Last updated: 29 January 2025
© State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2023
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