Practice Connect #238

Upcoming Change: Referrals to WACHS Midwest Public Specialist Outpatient Services

From Monday 16 February, all external referrals (from GPs, nurse practitioners, and private specialists) to nine WACHS Midwest public medical-led outpatient specialties will be managed through the Central Referral Service (CRS). This means the CRS will be the single intake point for these services.

This change supports ongoing outpatient reform to streamline referral processes and improve access to specialist care.

Key primary care referrers have been advised of the change and will be supported through Q&A sessions and training resources.

For further information and contact details for support for your practice or, please see the flyer.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to improve access to public specialist outpatient services in the region.

Please see the flyer for more information and contact details for support.

The TGA has reported that the current Bicillin L-A (benzathine benzylpenicillin, Pfizer) shortage has been extended until 31 August 2026.
Lentocillin S 1200 benzathine benzylpenicillin is a TGA-approved, PBS-listed alternative (see About the shortage of Bicillin L-A). It is a powder requiring reconstitution with a diluent (packaged with the powder) which contains lidocaine to reduce the pain associated with treatment.
Benzathine benzylpenicillin should be prioritised for use in the following conditions:

• Treatment and secondary prophylaxis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), and secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
• Patients who require treatment for group-A streptococcal infection of the respiratory tract and skin who are at high risk of acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease or acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN), where oral therapy is not acceptable or the likelihood of non-adherence is high.
• Treatment for syphilis in proven or suspected cases, or if identified as a sexual contact of syphilis.

To ensure your patients’ access to benzathine benzylpenicillin:

1. Maintain adequate stock in your doctor’s bag.
2. Contact your local public health unit if urgent supply is needed for a patient with infectious syphilis, or contact a public sexual health or infectious diseases clinic to refer the patient for urgent treatment.
3. Be aware that emergency supplies are available directly from Pfizer Australia (call 1800 675 229 for information).

Imaging and pathology results must accompany Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) Breast Clinic referrals to ensure referral acceptance and urgency triaging.

A complete work up of breast lumps prior to surgical review includes the triple assessment:

• Physical examination.
• Mammogram and ultrasound of breasts and axilla are required for baseline imaging of suspected breast cancers.
• Core biopsy of the breast lesion(s) is preferred to fine needle aspiration (FNA).

Referrals should include mammogram, ultrasound and pathology reports including receptor status (if available). If unable to attach reports, paste results into the body of the referral and include investigation date(s) and facilities where investigations were performed.

Patients with all required imaging and pathology results provided on referral can bypass breast physician assessment and be booked directly with a breast surgeon to facilitate earlier treatment. Patients who require biopsy or further investigations are triaged to the breast physician clinic for triple assessment completion before the breast physician can refer patients who need surgical treatment to a breast surgeon.

For breast conditions requiring immediate referral, such as inflammatory breast cancer, breast abscess, breast cancer in pregnancy, or rapidly progressing disease that needs review within seven days, please call 08 9224 2244 and ask to speak with the Breast Surgery Registrar, or if after hours, the General Surgical Registrar on call. Send the immediate referral, including the name of the RPH clinician who accepted the referral, to rphbhref via HealthLink. Please refer to Clinician Assist WA: Breast Symptoms  for more information.

The RPH Breast Clinic aims to see patients with diagnosed or suspected breast cancer within two to four weeks of receipt of referral from CRS and provides services for screen-detected breast cancers in collaboration with the screening clinics.Women at high risk of breast cancer are also managed through the dedicated Familial Cancer Clinic.

RPH does not accept referrals for routine screening. Please direct these requests to BreastScreen WA or privately.

New laws were recently introduced which mean that more of your patients’ health information will be automatically uploaded and will also be available sooner in My Health Record. This change will help your patients, and you as healthcare providers, to have quicker access to the latest information, supporting better care.

Automatic uploading of health information means patients can get their results sooner, helping them to take a more active role in their health and wellbeing.

• Most pathology reports (like blood and urine tests) are available for your patients to view in My Health Record or the 1800MEDICARE app as soon as they are uploaded.
• Some results, including anatomical pathology, cytopathology, and genetic testing, are viewable after a 5-day delay reduced from the previous 7-day delay.

From March 2026:

• X-ray reports for limbs (arms and legs) will be available for your patients to view immediately after uploading.
• Other x-rays and types of diagnostic imaging reports (like CT scans, mammograms, MRI and PET scans, and ultrasounds) will be viewable after 5 days, reduced from the previous 7-day delay.

Healthcare providers delivering pathology and diagnostic imaging tests (like blood tests and x-rays) will be required to upload written reports to My Health Record by default. These changes are expected to transition into effect throughout 2026, giving healthcare providers time to get ready.

• Your patients’ test results will be uploaded to My Health Record, unless they ask for them not to be.
• Healthcare providers involved can access the latest reports, supporting more connected and safer care for your patients.
• All their key health information is together in one secure place, making it easier to manage their health, especially if they see different healthcare providers or move between hospitals, pathology providers, medical imaging practices or clinics.

• Your Pathology and Radiology reports in MHR
• Better Faster Access FAQs

If you have any further questions, please contact Practice Assist on 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au

The WA immunisation schedules have been updated with the following:

• Childhood pneumococcal vaccination decision aid simplified.
• Upper age limit removed for Abrysvo vaccination.
• Flucelvax Quad added to over 65 year olds and under 5 year olds.

If your practice is planning on printing a copy of the schedule to keep on hand, remember to also print the decision aids as well:

• Western Australian Immunisation Schedule
• Western Australian Aboriginal Immunisation Schedule
• Childhood pneumococcal vaccination decision aid
• RSV immunisation decision aid (for Kimberley and Pilbara regions only)

Presented by Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Directorate
Thursday 19 February (9.30am – 11.30am) Department of Health Theatrette, or online via MS Teams

The Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Directorate Immunisation Program invites WA immunisation providers (including midwives, community health clinics, general practice, Aboriginal Medical Services, and community pharmacies) to attend the 2026 RSV Immunisation Program Information Session.

The session will cover information on 2026 program details.

Please register for face-to-face attendance by COB Wednesday 18 February, to receive a ticket from Humanitix. Please ensure you have your ticket accessible upon entrance, for a seamless sign-in process on the day. There is a maximum of 1 ticket per order, please register individually.

Please register for online attendance to receive a confirmation email from Humanitix with a MS Teams meeting link. Please save this email/link to your calendar. Registration for online attendance is available until the end of the event i.e. Thursday 19 February 11.30am. There is a maximum of 1 ticket per order, please register individually.

The session will be recorded and circulated post event.

View the flyer here for more information and to register.