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Hepatology (Adult)

Hepatology (Adult)

Patient requires immediate (within 7 days) attention

Immediate referrals (patient to be seen within 7 days) should be sent directly to the relevant hospital. Do not send immediate referrals via Central Referral Service (CRS).

Contact the on-call registrar or service to arrange an immediate hepatology assessment for:

  • Hepatitis B virus
    • Deteriorating LFT (e.g. rising bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or INR) without red flags
  • Hepatitis C virus
    • Deteriorating LFT (e.g. rising bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or INR) without red flags
  • Liver cirrhosis
    • Deteriorating LFT (e.g. rising bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or INR) without red flags
  • Liver lesion(s)
    • Liver lesion(s) on imaging suggestive of primary liver cancer (hepatic cellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma)
    • Symptomatic liver lesion(s)
    • Rapidly enlarging liver lesion(s)
    • Vascular invasion
  • Suspected liver disease
    • Suspected liver cancer/hepatocellular carcinoma
    • Decompensated cirrhosis with red flags (jaundice, ascites, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding) not requiring emergency department presentation
    • High alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (> 1000U/L) and clinically well

 

To contact the relevant services, see Clinician Assist WA: Acute Hepatology Assessment (external site)
Excluded conditions and services

Exclusions

Referrals to public hepatology (adult) outpatient services are not routinely accepted for the following conditions:

Excluded condition Details
Nil  
 

Excluded elective procedures

All elective procedures must meet an identified clinical need to improve the health of the patient. Procedures are not to be performed for cosmetic or other non-medical reasons. Excluded procedures will not be performed unless under exceptional circumstances and where a clear clinical need has been identified. For excluded procedures, the referral must clearly state:

  • that the request is for an excluded procedure

  • the clinical exception reason as to why it should be considered.

Access the WA Elective Surgery Access and Waiting List Management Policy at WA Health Policy Frameworks.

Excluded procedure Clinical exception reason
Nil  

Last reviewed: 29-04-2025
wa.gov.au