RESPIRATORY

Referral

PLEASE SEND THE GP REFERRAL TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

- Fax: 09-638-9947 (preferred)
- Email: referrals@aucklandmed.co.nz
- EDI: akmdspec

Every patient needs a GP referral to see one of our specialists

Once we have the referral in our system the patient can be added to a cancellation list if an earlier appointment becomes available.

If your patient is non-English speaking or has trouble understanding English, please advise them to bring a translator with them or someone who can speak on their behalf. We do not provide translators at Auckland Medical Specialists.

Immigration patients need to bring the following to their appointment:

• The letter from Immigration New Zealand asking them to see a pulmonary / respiratory specialist

• All their X-rays (if Immigration New Zealand is still holding their X-rays, they will need to obtain the X-rays from them)

• If English is not their first language, they need to bring someone who can speak on their behalf / an interpreter

• Their current passport.

Information for immigration patients requiring sputum tests

As part of the screening process for immigration status the respiratory physician may require your patient to undertake 3 induced sputum tests.

1. We will send the referral  to the Greenlane Clinical Centre (at 214 Greenlane Road West, Epsom) and they will contact your patient directly to arrange for these tests to be done. (http://www.adhb.health.nz/patients-and-visitors/hospitals-and-clinics/greenlane-clinical-centre/)

2. The tests take place at Greenlane Clinical Centre on 3 consecutive days. Non-resident patients will be required to pay the full cost of the tests.

3. Sputum cultures take 6 weeks to grow. The laboratory will only issue the results of the sputum tests after the 6 week period has passed.

4. These results will then be sent to the Respiratory Physician your patient saw at Auckland Medical Specialists.

5. On receipt of the sputum test results, the Respiratory Physician will arrange for a report to be sent to Immigration New Zealand . A copy of this report will also be sent to you, the referring doctor as well as to the patient, at this time.

6. Only call Auckland Medical Specialists if you have not received the report 8 weeks from the time of sputum collection.