A patient consults with their GP

Lower urinary tract symptoms

Statewide referral criteria

Specialty: Urology
Age group: Adult

Direct to an emergency department for:

  • Acute, painful urinary retention.

Immediately contact the urology registrar to arrange an urgent urology assessment for:

  • Chronic urinary retention with deteriorating renal function or hydronephrosis.

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

  • Severe lower urinary tract symptoms
  • Men with complicated lower urinary tract symptoms:
    • bladder stones
    • elevated post-void residuals greater than 150 millilitres
    • hydronephrosis
  • Mild to moderate symptoms that have not responded to medical management.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided:

  • Midstream urine microscopy culture sensitivities
  • Urea and electrolytes
  • Urinary tract ultrasound or CT intravenous pyelogram results.

Provide if available:

  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) history
  • Bladder diary.

Additional comments

The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.

Where appropriate and available, the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.

Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for

  • Mild to moderate symptoms that have not been treated
  • Symptoms that have responded to medical management.

Updated

Where to get help

Patients
For information about your specific medical condition, care pathway and/or wait times, please contact your GP or health service that you have been referred to.

General Practitioners
If your query relates to a referral for a specialist clinic, please contact the relevant health service directly or refer to their website for guidance.

For all other queries
Email plannedcare@health.vic.gov.au.