To refer
A valid GP or Specialist referral is required for all
services provided in this clinic – please visit your GP for an assessment if
you feel a referral may be required. If you are a GP or Specialist wishing to
make a referral, please use the below contacts.
Mandatory referral information
All Aged Care referrals must include a consultant being referred to in RNSH outpatients. If unsure, please address to Dr Sue Ogle and Colleagues.
All referrals must include patients details, contact details for carer/next of kin, provisional diagnosis and reason for referral, finding/treatment to date, how this affects the patient, significant medical history, list of medications and relevant social information. Please indicate preferred language if an interpreter is required.
Please attach results of any investigations to the referral and ensure the patient brings hard copies to their appointment. This will help avoid unnecessary duplication of tests, additional appointments and delay.
Indications for referral
For referrer use only. Any patients who feel they may
require a referral must be assessed and referred by their GP if appropriate.
| Post-inpatient review | Post-inpatient review | General Aged Care Clinic |
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| Limited ability to manage at home | Limited ability to manage at home | General Aged Care Clinic |
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| Polypharmacy | •Taking 5 or more medication •Taking >12 doses of medication/day •Having difficulty managing medicines •Sub-optimal response to medication management | General Aged Care Clinic |
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| Falls | •Recent fall (send to ED if significant injury sustained, eg fracture) •> 1 near fall •High falls risk •Fear of falls •Balance problems •Should have MMSE >24, not a nursing home resident | Falls Clinic |
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| Suspected Cognitive Impairment | •MMSE = 26-30 •Family history of young onset dementia •Must be able to lie flat and still for at least 30mins and without claustrophobia or dyspnoea •Absence of terminal illness Include in referral: MMSE score, cerebral imaging (CT or MRI), dementia blood screen (FBC, EUC, LFT, calcium, glucose, B12, folate, TFT, VitD). | Memory Clinic, or General Aged Care Clinic if >75yo |
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| Mental Illness | •Chronic mental illness and stable mental state on psychotropic medication, requiring review of medications | Psychogeriatrics Clinic |
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The RNSH Aged Care Clinic is unable to provide a service for the following:
Aged <60 years old (or <65yo for Psychogeriatrics clinic), or aged <50 years old if Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander
Active mental health symptoms – refer to the Older People's Mental Health (OPMH) Team LNS, via 1800 011511
Organising assistance with community services, home care packages and respite/permanent residential care placement (ACAT assessments) – please ask family to ring 1800 200 422 or refer to
https://myagedcare.gov.auThe falls clinic is not suitable for nursing home residents, and may not be able to offer a service for patients with MMSE <24
Patients with suspected cognitive impairment in the presence of terminal illness
Note: limited transport assistance is available for eligible patients living in the Lower North Shore catchment area. Contact the clinic on (02) 9462 9333 for eligibility criteria.
Out of Area Referral
RNSH provides services to patients living within the Northern Sydney Local Health District. Exceptions to this are outlined below.
| Resident of Northern Sydney Local Health District Catchment | Yes - referral accepted at RNSH |
| Referral from other specialist, for specialist opinion | Yes - referral accepted at RNSH |
| Resident of other Local Health District that DOES NOT provide the clinical service e.g. rural, outer metro | Yes, but service or problem needs to be documented on referral |
| Continuing care of existing condition we already manage | Yes, provided existing or related condition documented on referral |
| Demonstrated complexity requiring services of Royal North Shore Hospital | Yes but must be explicitly documented on referral |
| Compassionate circumstances (e.g. family proximity) | Yes but must be explicitly documented on referral |
| Resident of other Local Health District that offers the service | Refer to you Local Health District |
Check if the home address is within Northern Sydney Local Health District here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/lhd/Pages/lhd-maps.aspx
NSLHD consultant referral options
The following Geriatricians work at RNSH. Some also have private rooms in the Northern Specialist Centre (North Shore Private Hospital), which patients can be referred to and usually have a shorter waiting period. There will likely be an out of pocket cost for the consultation at the private rooms.
| Dr Sue Ogle | Suite 9, Level 4, Northern Specialist Centre St Leonards 2065 Ph: (02) 9463 1966 Fax: (02) 9463 2097 | General Aged Care |
| Dr Kevin Chang | Suite 9, Level 4, Northern Specialist Centre St Leonards 2065 Ph: (02) 9463 1966 Fax: (02) 9463 2097 | General Aged Care |
| Dr Terry Finnegan | No private rooms | General Aged Care |
| Dr James Hardy | No private rooms | General Aged Care |
| Dr Peter Veitch | Suite 9, Level 4, Northern Specialist Centre St Leonards 2065 Ph: (02) 9463 1966 Fax: (02) 9463 2097 | General Aged Care; Memory Clinic |
| Dr Connie Vogler | No private rooms | Falls and Fracture Prevention |
| Dr Anita Warrier | Suite 7, Level 3, North Shore Private Hospital St Leonards 2065 Ph: (02) 8425 3187 Fax: (02) 8425 3560 | Falls and Fracture Prevention |
| Dr Mark Haran | 4 Daydream St, Warriwood 2102
Ph: (02) 8919 3100 Fax: (02) 8919 3190 Level 1, 812 Pittwater Rd Dee Why 2099 Ph: 0473 769 999 Fax: (02) 9972 9024 | Falls and Fracture Prevention |
| Dr Helen Wu | No private rooms | Memory Clinic |
Quick links
My Aged Care Federal government website providing extensive resources and searchable indexes of local aged care services.
Article from the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine describing the role of a Geriatrician.
Position statements on important or common issues affecting older people from the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine.
