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Bay of Plenty

Find the referral acceptance,access criteria and clinical pathway guidance for women's health in the Bay of Plenty.

Referral acceptance

Referral acceptance

Gynaecology services in the Bay of Plenty include secondary level care for inpatients and outpatients at both Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals. Tertiary level gynaecology care is provided by Waikato Hospital, through a referral from a Bay of Plenty based specialist.

Referrals are prioritised by senior medical officers based on the information contained within. Additional information should be attached where available. The prioritisation tool used to grade referrals can be found below.

All accepted referrals will be seen within a maximum waiting time of 4 months, unless there is a clinical reason for delay.

Referral acceptance is as follows:

First specialist assessments
Priority 1 Accepted
Priority 2 Accepted
Priority 3 Declined
Priority 4 Declined


Surgery acceptance is as follows:

Treatment List

  
Gynae CPAC 20+ Accepted

Note: Access criteria that determine prioritisation primarily on the referral diagnosis have their limitations and this is acknowledged. For those referrals in which the referring doctor has not been able to make a confident diagnosis it may be difficult, or impossible, to apply these ACA criteria. It is therefore stressed that these are guidelines only and that clinical judgement must be applied in all cases in which they are used.

Access criteria

Access criteria

Category

Criteria

 1. Immediate
(within 14 days)
  • High suspicion of cancer, as per April 2016 FCT data definitions
  • Miscarriage
  • Severe functional disturbance

2. Urgent
(within 4 weeks)
  • Major functional disturbance
    • Pain requiring narcotic or high levels of analgesia

 3. Semi-urgent
(Not accepted)
  • Moderate functional disturbance
    • Severe anaemia
    • Chronic PID
    • Fertility
    • Menorrhagia
    • Vulval abnormalities

4. Routine
(Not accepted)
  • Minor functional disturbance
    • Fertility
    • Endocrine Dysfunction
    • Gynaecological disorders with limited functional impairment
    • Congenital abnormalities

Clinical priority criteria is a guide rather than exhaustive, complete or exclusory.

Termination of pregnancy - Clinical pathway guidance

Termination of pregnancy - Clinical pathway guidance

Assessment

  1. Woman is considering pregnancy options and is offered free counselling.
  2. If she would like counselling, refer to counselling options below.

Management

1. If the patient does not want counselling or participates in counselling and makes a decision to terminate the pregnancy

  • 0-9 weeks gestation termination

  • 9-13 weeks gestation termination
  • 13-18 weeks gestation termination
    • Make a referral to Health NZ Bay of Plenty Social Work Services to access termination services in Auckland. The social worker will arrange travel and accommodation as required.
  • 18-20 weeks gestation Termination
    • Make a referral to Health NZ Bay of Plenty Social Work Services to access termination services in Auckland.  The social worker will arrange travel and accommodation as required. 
    • Please note there is no guaranteed service for 18-20 weeks gestation however a referral should still be made so we can attempt to find a service.
  • Fetal abnormality or maternal health concerns
    • Referrals can be made to NZ Maternal Fetal Medicine - Auckland to confirm fetal abnormality. If the woman then decides to have a TOP they will refer to a Health NZ Bay of Plenty obstetrician and gynaecologist. TOP provided by Tauranga Hospital.
    • NZMFM referral form (external link)

2. Woman is offered post-termination counselling