This form can be used for radiology requests for hospitals, hospices, and other clinicians unable to access via direct PMS referral.

This form should NOT be used for any obstetric related referrals.

SUBMIT A REFERRAL ONLINE HERE

ACC HEAD CT REQUESTS - Following minor head injury (Short Term Only)

A short-term winter funding initiative for CT Head scans to be performed in the community following minor head injury is available until the end of September 2023.

Patients with a minor head injury who meet specific referral criteria may be able to have a CT Head in the community, via POAC, as an alternative to sending the patient to ED for assessment. Patients must have been discussed with, and endorsed by, an ED consultant who will also provide a time frame in which the CT needs to be completed.

If POAC is unable to arrange a CT Head in the appropriate time frame for some patients, due to limited CT Head capacity in the community at that time, POAC will contact the referring clinician (GP, UC, NP) immediately and advise them that the CT Head cannot be done. The patient should then be sent directly into ED without further discussion with an ED consultant. An acute admission eReferral will need to be sent.

For further information including the specific referral criteria, see further details HERE.

Referrals should be submitted via your practice PMS in the normal way, call POAC (09) 535 7218 to discuss and book.

Phone (09) 535 7218 to request CT or Ultrasound appointments which will be facilitated by POAC coordination team.

The following are standard presentations eligible for POAC. Other services may be available, please call to discuss.

• DVT Doppler Ultrasound (see DVT pathway)

• Upper Abdominal Ultrasound (see Gallstones pathway)

• Testicular Ultrasound (urgent/same day and endorsed by Urology Consultant)

• CT KUB or Renal Ultrasound (see Renal Colic Pathway)

• Soft Tissue Ultrasound

• Pelvic Ultrasound (if required acutely within 24-48 hrs and this will change immediate management). 

• CT Head - non-contrast urgent (non-ACC) MUST have named endorsing Neurologist (UNTIL 30TH SEPT 2023 ONLY)

If emailing requests, kindly ensure the radiology form is attached

POAC funding may be used for patients who are a distance from the hospital grounds (or other barriers to access) and need an urgent, same-day X-ray to assist in immediate clinical management and avoid an acute hospital presentation.

Under these circumstances, POAC will provide funding for the following acute (same-day) X-rays:

• ABDOMINAL X-RAY

  • Do not request Abdo XR for suspected renal colic - refer HealthPathway here and consider CT KUB

  • AXR for adult constipation, may be useful in the absence of any red flags.  However, this may be of limited use and will not exclude alternative diagnoses.  Refer HealthPathway here

• MUSCULOSKELETAL X-RAY - ACC SURCHARGES

  • Applies only to injuries initiated by St John, hospital, OR via an Emergency Q Voucher

• FOREIGN BODY

  • Non-ACC only (e.g. ingested FB) - refer FB Ingested by Children HealthPathway here

• CHEST X-RAY

  • CXR is usually not required in the initial community management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia. They may however be required if the diagnosis is uncertain and the findings will alter clinical acute management. For further information click here

  • POAC does not fund CXR for post-viral cough, including COVID-19 infection or suspected TB (except for Ukraine refugees). Use hospital walk-in service, access to diagnostics, or eReferral.

  • Consider using a hospital walk-in service for plain X-rays.  
    

For POAC funding to apply, same-day follow-up of the X-ray result must be documented in the clinical notes.

ACC:

Injury-related investigations should be arranged under ACC funding in the first instance. 

POAC will assist with the coordination of ACC-related DVT ultrasounds.  These remain under ACC funded with POAC covering co-payment only.

MATERNITY:

All pregnancy-related ultrasounds should be referred under maternity funding. POAC funding is available where >2 weeks post miscarriage/termination or >6 weeks postpartum.

ROUTINE INVESTIGATIONS:

Urgent or routine investigations are not funded under POAC and can be accessed by eReferral to DHB, Access to Diagnostics, or private funding/insurance.

POAC funded radiology is available for paediatrics (0-15 year olds) where required acutely to avoid same day admission. Consider discussing with paediatrician.

For all Ultrasound and CT appointments see Auckland Regional HealthPathways, discuss with on-call paediatric service and call POAC with name of specialist endorsing the investigation to arrange an appointment.

Starship Children's Hospital: 021 927 680

Kidz First (MMH): 021 516 908 or (09) 250 3820

North Shore and Waitakere: 0800 244 533

Using the practice management system (or paper referral) generate the POAC case number and write a radiology request form. Advise the patient/carer to attend a private radiology provider of their choice with the request form.

For Counties Manukau obstetric vouchers and acute requests, please use the CLICK HERE