Lesions

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

Refer to clinic:

  • Melanoma, confirmed or suspected
  • Other skin cancers, confirmed or suspected (biopsy first)
  • Other malignancies (head/neck/oral/salivary glands/connective tissue)
  • Benign skin lesions (naevi/congenital naevi) where there is concern
  • Subcutaneous and deep tissue tumours

All referrals should comply to referral standards and include in particular:

  • Include details of site and size of lesion, symptoms.

Refer suspected Melanoma without delay.

Tests

  • Do not perform punch biopsy if melanoma is suspected
  • Include pathology report and other investigations if available
  • CT scan and other imaging as appropriate
  • USS of lesion as appropriate

Interim/GP management

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

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Emergency

Patients requiring immediate surgical intervention should be referred to the Emergency Department or discussed with the Plastics Registrar

Urgent / category 1

Suspected melanoma (please phone the registrar and speak to them)

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

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Plastics Registrar to organise urgent assessment and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine:

Next available appointment