Dyspnoea (undifferentiated breathlessness)

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

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 Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Emergency

Clinical judgement

Urgent / category 1

Uncertain diagnosis with severe symptoms

Semi-urgent / category 2

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

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

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

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:

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:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks.

Routine:

Next available appointment.