Westmead Lung Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Service

• Respiratory Physician
• Radiation Oncologists
• Medical Oncologist
• Radiologists
• Pathologists
• Cardiothoracic Surgeon
• Lung Cancer Nurse
• Dietitian
• Social Worker
• Palliative Care Physicians
• Nuclear Medicine Physicians
• Psycho-Oncologist

Patients can be referred to this service either through a Respiratory Physician in their rooms, or through a Medical Oncologist or Radiation Oncologist at The Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre.

A multidisciplinary service for the assessment of lung nodules or masses of unknown cause, suspected lung cancer, and thoracic lymphadenopathy of uncertain cause. Located at: Level 5, C Block, Respiratory Comprehensive Clinical Centre, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145. Operates: every Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Referral criteria

• Patients with lung lesions or thoracic lymphadenopathy demonstrated on CT imaging

Referral exclusions

• WSLHD boundaries, although out of area referrals for clinical trials will be considered
• Active Tuberculosis
• Low risk patients with lung nodules that do not meet criteria for follow up (see guidelines (PDF 144.26KB)) and consider referral if ideal management pathway is unclear.

To refer a patient, send referral information via email to: wslhd-wm-respiratorymedicine@health.nsw.gov.au 

The referral letter should include Dr Chinthaka Samaranayake as the named specialist and the referrer’s provider number.

Patient details required

• Name, address, phone and mobile number
• Date of birth
• Medicare / Department of Veterans’ Affairs number
• Whether an interpreter is required, and the language
• State if patient is Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• State if patient is not an Australian resident
• Clinical details required

Reason for referral

• History and co-morbidities
• Examination findings
• Investigations carried out and results
• Options already pursued
• Current medications
• Allergies and adverse reactions

General practitioner details

• Name and practice
• Practice address, phone and fax numbers
• Medicare provider number
• Patient’s usual general practitioner (if different from above)

Service/Clinic Specific Referral Information

• Current issue requiring assessment – please provide adequate details as this information will be used to triage the patient.
• Requires recent CT imaging of the chest including CD or printed images, as well as printed report (it is essential that the patient brings these to each visit)
• Recent blood test results

For more information, please phone the Administration Office for Respiratory and Sleep Medicine on on (02) 8890 6797 or visit the page.

To refer, send referral information via email: WSLHD-PatientReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au

• Suspicious lesions should be referred urgently for review.
• Any medical practitioner can refer appropriate patients.
• A referral letter can be faxed to the CPMCC and must include a named doctor and the referrer’s provider number
• A letter will be sent to the patient with a date and time for the appointment
• If a patient fails to attend a scheduled appointment, the referral will be returned to the referring practitioner
• Referrals may be returned if deemed inappropriate for the service
• Patients must bring relevant X-rays, imaging, scans, and investigation results

It is the referring clinician’s responsibility to check with the patient that they have received an appointment, or an alternate referral has been made.

For more information, phone the Thoracic Oncology CNC on 0408 254 181 or see the Canrefer Westmead Lung Cancer MDT Program.

This information is taken from Western Sydney HealthPathways website where available.