Clinics & services

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Victorian Spinal Cord Service referrals

We accept referrals from GPs, specialists or other health professionals.

The Victorian Spinal Cord Service is a state-wide service for people with traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Victoria, Tasmania, and the Riverina region of NSW. The service gives priority to clients who have sustained a traumatic SCI, where:

Injury was sustained within catchment area
Injury sustained outside of catchment area, but client usually resides within catchment area

Referrals to the Victorian Spinal Cord Service

Please call Switchboard on 03 9496 5000 and ask for the on-call Spinal Medicine Registrar. Considerations:

Newly acquired traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI)

You will be asked to complete a referral form.
In most circumstances, patients will be admitted to the Austin Hospital campus when a bed is available.
Patient may be waitlisted for a direct rehabilitation admission (at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre campus).

Spinal column injury, without a diagnosed spinal cord or severe cauda equina injury

These patients do not meet criteria for admission to VSCS.

Newly acquired non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI)

The VSCS is not the designated state-wide service for clients with non-traumatic SCI.
While we are sometimes able to accommodate clients with newly acquired SCI of non-traumatic aetiology (acquired SCI due to medical and surgical causes), this is only possible on a case-by-case basis, when we have capacity within our service.
Where referrals of clients with acute non-traumatic spinal impairment are declined, efforts will be made to provide information on referral pathways and assist local management.

Existing clients of VSCS

For urgent advice about the management of an existing client of VSCS, doctors can contact the on-call Spinal Medicine Registrar via Austin Health Switchboard on 03 9496 5000.

Outpatient services referrals

Existing clients of VSCS, and new clients with traumatic SCI who require outpatient spinal medicine review

Indicate reason for referral to the Spinal Medicine Clinic
Send referrals via Healthlink or fax to 03 9496 2097
Fax urgent referrals to 03 9496 2938
Find out more about referring your patient to Specialist Clinics.

We offer routine surveillance clinics, or medical review for particular issues.

VSCS is not a diagnostic service. If your client does not have a confirmed diagnosis of acquired spinal cord injury (including conus medullaris or severe cauda equina), we would recommend that you refer to a neurologist or another relevant specialty team as required.