A referral from your family doctor or specialist is required, and should be mailed or faxed to outpatient appointments. The facsimile number is (03) 9345 5034. These are triaged and appointments are booked according to the urgency of the problem.

For enquiries about outpatient appointments, please telephone (03) 9345 6180.

For emergencies please attend the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

Pre-referral guidelines

Additionally, you will find reference to paediatric Health Pathways developed in conjunction with the Victorian primary health networks (phn) and Safer Care Victoria.

The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Pre-Referral Guidelines provide suggested treatment prior to referral to RCH outpatient departments. These guidelines have been specifically developed by the relevant RCH specialty.

Otolaryngology referral requirements for children over three years of age:

• Referrals with a combination of hearing loss and ear infection must be accompanied with recent hearing test results. Hearing tests in children can be obtained from many audiology centres in the community including  Hearing Australia
• Referrals for tonsils, snoring or sleep apnoea must be accompanied with a completed  OSA questionnaire.
• Hoarseness
• Midline neck mass – suspected thyroglossal duct cyst
• Obstructive adenotonsillar hyperplasia
• Otitis externa
• Otitis media – acute suppurative otitis media ASOM
• Otitis media with effusion
• Recurrent tonsillitis
• Rhinorrhoea – nasal congestion
• Sinusitis

Alternative Paediatric ENT services