Renal Colic — Auckland | Counties Manukau | Waitematā
Renal Colic POAC Management
referral@poac.co.nz · (09) 535 7218 (Mon–Fri, 8.30–4.30)
Referral criteria for POAC funding of Renal Colic in the community.
Principles of funding
POAC supports management of Renal Colic in the community, in line with the National Community Referred Radiology (CRR) Criteria and Regional HealthPathway guidance below.
POAC funds investigations where required within 48 hours to determine management. More routine scans (where publicly funded) should be requested via hospital radiology e-Referral or Access to Diagnostics.
POAC Funded Investigations
Unless the patient has recurrent renal colic and the exclusions below apply, arrange Primary Options for Acute Care (POAC)-funded imaging. Arrange:
Recurrent renal colic that does not need imaging
Imaging is not required where ALL of the following apply. The patient:
- is aged younger than 50 years
- is presenting with typical renal colic
- has no features of concern requiring admission
- has had a confirmed stone on CT-KUB or ultrasound during the last 5 years
Features of concern requiring admission
- Creatinine greater than 160 µmol/L or eGFR less than 45 mL/min
- Solitary kidney
- Temperature above 38°C
- Peritonitis or signs of sepsis
- Known bilateral ureteric stones
Patients with any of these features are not suitable for community management — refer acutely to hospital.
How to refer
1. POAC PMS system – generate a new referral via the PMS POAC form using the relevant diagnosis code, and email the radiology request to referral@poac.co.nz.
2. Online radiology form – submit the referral directly online. POAC will coordinate the booking and contact the patient and referrer with details.
POAC referral: referral@poac.co.nz · (09) 535 7218
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026
Important note: all POAC referrals and claims are subject to the applicable terms and conditions of use.