CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
These are recommended guidelines for health professionals referring patients for assessments / treatment in a HHS.

within 1 week

within 4 weeks

within 16 weeks

Immediate and Urgent cases must be discussed with the Specialist or Registrar in order to get appropriate prioritisation and then a referral letter sent with the patient, faxed or e-mailed.  The times to assessment may vary depending on size and staffing of the hospital department.

Skin swabs are indicated when atypical or fails to respond to treatment.

Treat with antiseptics and / or topical antibiotics. Oral antibiotics for recurrent or more extensive disease.

Refer to dermatologists recurrent or extensive infections, infections complicating inflammatory dermatoses, immunosuppressed patients.

Category 1   
to
Category 2    

Other References: 

Differential Diagnosis in Dermatology.  Richard Ashton & Barbara Leppard.  Radcliffe Medical Press. 1990