Closer to Home requires outpatient referrals to be directed, in the first instance, to the patient’s local HHS. The local HHS will assess if the service can be provided by them and if not, refer to another HHS providing that service closest to the patient’s residence.
If it is determined after local HHS specialist review, that MNHHS tertiary specialist advice is required, the local HHS is to communicate this to MNHHS and identify the tertiary requirement of the referral.
MNHHS will continue to accept direct referrals from out of catchment for statewide and specialist tertiary services only. The scope of Closer to Home initiative therefore excludes:
- Queensland Heart and Lung Services
(organ transplant, advanced cardiac failure, severe pulmonary arterial hypertension) - Burns
- Genetics
- Maternal Foetal Medicine
- Neurosurgery
- Cardiac surgery
- Vascular surgery
- STARS specialties (excluding Gastroenterology / Endoscopy).
MNHHS is committed to the health of all Queenslanders and providing patient access to specialist medical services Closer to Home.
Commencing 1 April 2021, MNHHS will be redirecting new patient referrals received from general practitioners (GPs) from outside the MNHHS catchment areas back to GPs, with advice that the referral be sent to the patient’s local HHS.
If you have any queries regarding the Closer to Home initiative, please contact the office of MNHHS Outpatient Strategies by emailing MNHHSOutpatientServices@health.qld.gov.au