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APPENDIX 10
REFERRALS
Patients may be referred to the nephrology service either electively or on an urgent basis from either within or outside of the hospital. The referrals shall be
from specialist to specialist as far as possible. Nevertheless in many hospitals this may not always be possible. Referrals will be handled as outlined below:
1. Inpatient Referrals
1.1 During oice hours
a Non-urgent • Referrals shall be reviewed on the same day by the designated
oicerspecialist. b Urgent
• Urgent referrals shall be reviewed as soon as possible by the designated oicer.
• Evaluation by the specialist or consultant shall be made as soon as possible.
1.2 After oice hours a After oice hours all referrals shall be seen by the designated on
call oicer. b Ill patients shall be reviewed by the on-call specialist or
consultant as soon as possible. c The on-call team shall pass over the case to the designated team
the following day.
2. Outpatient Referrals
a Patients referred to the outpatient nephrology clinic will be given appointments as per hospital policy.
b Urgent referrals will be screened by the designated doctor and will be seen on the same day if needed or admitted for further
assessment.
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c Referrals for admission shall be as per hospital admission policy.
3. Shared managementTransfer to nephrology ward
a Patients from other wards requiring haemodialysis treatment may remain in the respective ward and shall receive haemodialysis
treatment in the haemodialysis unit if stable. b Patients requiring temporary peritoneal dialysis shall be transferred
back to the initial ward upon completion of treatment unless repeat peritoneal dialysis treatment is highly likely in which case such
patients shall be retained in the nephrology ward. c Patients shall be transferred to the nephrologymedical ward if the
nephrology and primary team consider this to be in the patients’ best interest for further management.
