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Adult psychiatry referrals: a quick guide for GPs
What to send, when to refer, what your patient experiences, and how shared care works. A two-minute read for GPs considering a referral to our clinic.
Clinically reviewed by Consultant Psychiatry Team · FRANZCP
This is a short reference for GPs referring an adult patient to our clinic for the first time. If you want more detail on any of it, our practice manager Kate Cogan takes referrer queries personally on (03) 8822 8444.
When to refer
We see adults from 17 upwards for:
- Adult ADHD assessment and ongoing management.
- Mood disorders (depression, bipolar spectrum) requiring specialist diagnosis or medication input.
- Anxiety disorders where medication management benefits from specialist review.
- Trauma-related presentations.
- Medication review and rationalisation for complex regimens.
- Transition-age young people (17+) moving from paediatric services.
- Patients you are currently prescribing for who need a current treating psychiatrist on record.
We do not see:
- Acute risk presentations requiring hospital admission or tertiary mental health care.
- Acute psychosis or active suicidality (please refer to CATT or the local emergency department).
- Primary substance use disorders without a comorbid psychiatric presentation.
- Forensic, medico-legal or court-ordered assessments.
- NDIS-related referrals.
- Children and adolescents under 17.
What to include in the referral
- A standard referral letter addressed to our consultant psychiatrist.
- For ADHD assessments, current investigations: bloods, ECG and a urine drug screen. Any abnormalities should be managed through your practice before we book the patient in.
- Details of any past mental health care: diagnoses, treatments tried, prior reports if available.
- Current medication list.
- A summary of the presenting concern and what you are hoping we will address.
- For ADHD: please advise whether you intend to continue prescribing once the patient is stable.
What your patient experiences
Once your referral arrives:
- We acknowledge receipt in writing within one working day, with a likely timeframe.
- Your patient is contacted directly by our intake nursing team to confirm fit and book the first appointment.
- Their first appointment is a 60 to 90 minute consultation with one of our Mental Health Nurse Practitioners: health history, screening, intake collation for the psychiatrist.
- They then see one of our psychiatrists for a diagnostic consultation and treatment plan.
- For ADHD, a follow-up appointment with the psychiatrist is scheduled to confirm medication is working well before handover.
What you receive back
- A summary consultation letter after the psychiatrist appointment, with diagnosis, formulation, treatment plan, and prescribing recommendations.
- For ongoing patients: a written update after every subsequent review.
- A direct line for clinical questions between reviews: same-day or next-working-day callback.
Shared care
Shared care is how the clinic is set up, not a courtesy line at the bottom of a letter. We initiate and stabilise; you continue prescribing once the patient is stable. We review with the patient every three to six months and write to you each time. Clinical questions get a same-day or next-day callback.
How to send the referral
- Best Practice or Medical Director: secure send addressed to our consultant psychiatrist.
- Email: clinicalintake@outcomehealth.org.au
- Phone (for triage queries): (03) 8822 8444. Ask for Kate Cogan.
Wait times
Typically three to four weeks for a first in-person assessment. We hold capacity for urgent referrals; flag urgency clearly in the referral and we will prioritise.
More detail
For the full referrer process and FAQs, see our For Referrers page .