GPLink Update from the GPs at Royal North Shore
Issue 9 June 2025
In this issue we provide an update about mandatory e-referrals, provide information about education on the National Lung Cancer Screening program localised to northern Sydney, the Commonwealth Government subsidised wound dressing service, the new emergency discharge template, a shoulder research project and an update on services available to older adults.
Mandatory E-referrals for Outpatient Services in NSLHD begins 30 June 2025
From 30 June 2025, Northern Sydney Local Health District will only accept e-referrals to access outpatient services. This means paper, fax or emailed referrals will no longer be accepted. Only referrals sent via secure messaging e.g. via HealthLink through GP practice software or the MyHealthLink web portal will be accepted. Why are we changing? Using e-Referrals offers numerous advantages for referrers and the outpatient services: • Mitigates the risk associated with missing referrals delivered via fax or in person • Provides a more comprehensive clinical handover as it pre-populates information including patient details • Delivers transparent communication with GPs on the progress of referrals • Improves accessibility from outpatient services and clinicians
• Supports NSW Health’s transition to a statewide single digital patient record by 2026. • Maintains confidentiality of patient information in line with NSW Health Privacy law • Reduces the impact on planetary healt For those who require further assistance or support transitioning to the new system, our team is available to provide guidance and ensure a smooth process at nslhd-ereferrals@health.nsw.gov.au. Sydney North Health Network has also provided education regarding this transition which addresses frequently asked questions. The link to this webinar is available here, or via The Sydney North Health Network webpage under Education Videos.
Royal North Shore Hospital New Emergency Department Discharge Template
Any feedback on the new template would be welcome. Please use the QR code below to provide direct feedback to the emergency department team. https://forms.office.com/r/0aybRGYCU6
Royal North Shore Hospital emergency department started using a new discharge summary template earlier this year. This is in response to feedback, particularly from GPs, that there were common issues with discharge summaries around readability and finding relevant information. A discharge summary template has been designed to give staff a framework to ensure communication is accurate, succinct and useful to the reader. Our aim is for this to make discharges easy to read and time- saving for GPs. This will also ensure that discharges are consistent so information can be readily found.
General Practices Eligible to Apply for Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme from May 2025
The Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) was announced in the 2023-2024 Federal Budget with the aim of improving the management of patients living with chronic wounds. From May 2025 the CWCS will allow GPs (alongside nurses, podiatrists and Aboriginal health practitioners) to order approved dressings, bandages and related supplies for eligible patients via an online portal, with the commonwealth covering the full cost. To use the portal you will need to complete a short training program being developed by Monash University (available from March 2025). The CWCS is limited to people with diabetes who have a chronic wounds and are ≥65 years old (or ≥50 years for First Nations patients) and does not apply to wounds already treated in hospitals, state-run community services, the NDIS or DVA programs. In practice, the CWCS gives GPs a funded, streamlined pathway to supply evidence- based consumables and removes the out-of-pocket costs that often cause patients to delay care. A stepped approach to managing chronic wounds should still be undertaken with timely escalation to appropriate hospital outpatient services when wounds stagnate or don’t heal as expected.
In the case of chronic foot wounds, it is not only the wound management plan and consumables used that need to be optimised. Multidisciplinary review, vascular and neurological foot assessment, appropriate offloading, pressure relief strategies, footwear prescription and escalation to medical specialty teams remain the most effective way to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. High risk foot services play a key role in the coordination and facilitation of complex care planning for patients with hard to heal wounds. If you are concerned about prolonged wound healing time for patients with chronic wounds under your care, place an eReferral via HealthLink or contact the below services directly to discuss your case: The Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) High Risk Foot Service 02 9463 1242 NSLHD-RNSH-HighRiskFoot@health.nsw.gov.au Hornsby Hospital High Risk Foot Service 02 9485 6777 NSLHD-HKH-PodiatryReferrals@health.nsw. gov.au
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Shoulder Research Project
Background Preoperative muscle fatty infiltration has been reported as a strong predictor of early structural failure after a rotator cuff repair however it is not routinely assessed throughout the full volumes of each rotator cuff muscle. Hence, its predictive role for rotator cuff repair outcomes, as well as its associations with pain, strength and function are yet to be established with confidence. Study details This study seeks to investigate the relationship between preoperative fatty infiltration measured on a 3D volumetric T1 VIBE Dixon sequence capturing the entire length of the scapula and retear rates after a primary rotator cuff repair. Furthermore, this study seeks to compare functional, pain and strength outcomes between differing degrees of rotator cuff fatty infiltration. Additional MR shoulder sequence The T1 VIBE Dixon is an advanced volumetric MR scan with fat suppression that allows for fat quantification validated against histological gold standards.
Radiology reports will not comment on the additional sequence as it is a supplementary anatomical scan, unable to demonstrate incidental pathological findings. Therefore, this scan will not change the clinical decisions and care pathway. We encourage general practitioners who suspect a full-thickness rotator cuff tear to request include a T1 VIBE Dixon sequence of the shoulder as part of their initial MRI investigations prior to referral to the Royal North Shore Hospital orthopaedic clinic. Participating radiology clinics–Castlereagh Imaging St Leonards and North Shore Radiology Nuclear Medicine– will include the sequence at no additional cost.
National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) begins 1 July 2025 – Register Educational Webinar to be held June 11
The new NLCSP is a screening program using low-dose computed tomography scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people without any symptoms. It aims to find lung cancer early and reduce deaths from lung cancer. Screening services will begin for eligible people from July 2025. NSLHD and Sydney North Health Network PHN are committed to supporting GPs to effectively utilise this program. As such, a joint online webinar will be held on Wednesday June 11 from 7–8:30pm.
This webinar will include information on the details of the screening program, what GP practices can do in preparation, as well as input from local specialists on referral process for positive findings, including incidental findings. Please use this link to register your attendance Webinar Registration–Zoom. Educational resources will also be available from Lung Foundation Australia, as well as through the Australian Government National Lung Cancer Screening Program website.
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Keeping Older Adults Well at Home
General practice plays a crucial role in supporting older adults to remain well and independent at home. There is a range of healthy ageing resources available to GP practices and patients. Get Healthy NSW – Free Phone
Active and Healthy NSW Exercise Directory This is your best resource for finding local exercise programs. Simply search by location and radius, then print the results for your patients. Listings from a range of providers include strength and balance, tai chi, dance, walking groups, and falls prevention programs. Your allied health teams can also promote their physical activity programs for free. Visit: www.activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au Healthy Ageing Online Learning Older adults can learn about healthy eating, staying active, and falls prevention from the comfort of home. The online learning modules and exercise videos, are accessible anytime, allowing participants to progress at their own pace–no registration required! Visit–Healthy Ageing Online All this information, as well as clinical tools and much more are available in the Sydney North Health Pathways. If you have any questions, contact the NSLHD Healthy Ageing Team: nslhd-healthpromotion@health.nsw.gov.au
Coaching Service for Older Adults This service has expanded to support older adults (65+) and patients from Chinese communities. More bilingual coaches from other language backgrounds are being added. Phone coaches have been trained by experts in geriatrics to provide personalised support for older people. Coaches will support participants with physical and social wellbeing goals, connecting them to resources to stay well and independent at home. How to refer: • Self-referral: Call 1300 806 258 or visit Get Healthy NSW. • Clinician-only referral line: Call 9171 4617 or refer via Get Healthy NSW for Health Professionals. • Order free resources here: Free Resources » Get Healthy NSW
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Keeping Older Adults Well at Home continued....
‘Stepping On’ Falls Prevention Program –Now Available in More Languages!
‘Stepping On’ is a free falls prevention group program for community dwelling people 65+ including those living independently in retirement villages, who have had a fall or are fearful of falling. The program is run across NSLHD and consists of seven weekly two-hour group sessions. Eligible participants must be able to walk independently or with a walking stick and the program is not generally suitable for people with dementia or neuromuscular conditions.
With additional funding from the Sydney North Health Network, this popular program is now offered in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean, as well as our usual English language groups. Our bilingual facilitators and expert presenters deliver engaging and interactive sessions in-language. Our partnership with local community housing providers has enabled English and CALD programs to be delivered either onsite or close to community housing. Our next term begins in April/May, and registered participants will be contacted to enrol at a location convenient to them. Please visit our web site to see our program locations and dates: https://nshp.com.au/ SteppingOn How to refer: Register online at https://nshp.com.au/SteppingOn or call 02 9450 7050 (leave details for a call back). Bilingual facilitators can also take registrations by phone (see the website for translated flyers with facilitator details).
Feedback
We aim to improve communication between the hospital and primary care; improve patient experience of outpatients and ensure patients arrive back at their GP with adequate information to plan their ongoing care. We welcome your feedback on this information about the clinics at Royal North Shore. Please let us know if the format or content can be adjusted to better communicate the services available at the hospital. Email: NSLHD-GPLO@health.nsw.gov.au
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