Understand what happens after you refer your patient to the Women’s. This triage process applies to all services.
Step 1: Screening
- The Women’s Access Team receives referrals by Fast Fax: (03) 8345 3036.
- Referrers should use Fast Fax for all services, except the Abortion and Contraception Service.
- For the Abortion and Contraception Service, fax referrals to (03) 8345 2833 after your patient has contacted 1800 My Options to ensure the Women’s is the correct service for them.
Step 2: Triage and clinical prioritisation
- Referral information is screened and triaged by experienced nurses and midwives against local health service acceptance criteria and Victorian statewide referral criteria.
- Patients requiring an urgent consultation will be seen within 30 calendar days.
- Patients requiring a routine consultation will be seen at the next available, non-urgent appointment or placed on a waiting list.
Reasons we may not accept a referral (3)
1. We do not offer the service needed, or there is a hospital closer to the patient’s home address that can meet their healthcare needs.
What happens? We will contact you and ask you to redirect the referral. In some cases, we may redirect the referral to a more suitable public health service. Please let us know in your referral if your patient does not consent to this.
2. A referral does not include the required clinical and contact information for triage.
What happens? We will contact you to request the necessary information about the patient. If the requested information is not provided within 30 days, the referral will not be processed, and the patient will not receive an appointment.
3. The referral indicates the woman can be managed in a general practice setting according to HealthPathways.
What happens? You will receive a letter/fax confirming if your referral has been accepted or declined.
Step 3: Letter – referral accepted or declined
- GPs and patients will be notified of the referral outcome: appointment, waitlist or declined.
- GPs will receive a letter or fax.
- Patients will receive a letter by post (and to the patient portal Health Hub, if registered). The patient letter will include appointment or waitlist details.
- For more urgent appointments, the patient may receive a phone call or text message (SMS).
Step 4: Before the first appointment
Please ask your patient to continue seeing you, while they wait for an appointment at the Women’s.
When to contact us or re-refer
Did not receive GP letter
If you are a GP and do not receive a letter within 1 to 2 weeks that your referral has been accepted/declined, please phone the Access Centre - GP use only: (03) 8345 2058 (option 2).
Fax issues
If faxing is not an option for your clinic, or you have problems with fax referrals not being received, please email our GP Liaison Unit for assistance: GP.liaison@thewomens.org.au
Please do not include your referral in this email.
Clinical deterioration
If your patient develops new or worsening symptoms and you are concerned that the appointment is not timely for their needs, please resend the referral.
Clearly state it is a re-referral, the reasons for this, any red flags and relevant updated investigations, to expedite the appointment.
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Check the status of your referral through Parkville Connect If you have subscribed to our provider portal and your patient has previously attended the Women’s, you can login to access their Electronic Medical Record. This shows you the status of a referral and any scheduled upcoming appointments. |
Date reviewed: 27 December 2024
Date reviewed: 27 December 2024