Table 3.

Criteria for referral to primary care team (PC) or geriatric evaluation and management team (GM) ¹

Clinical domain	Referral Criteria
Bradycardia	Heart rate <50
Tachycardia	Heart rate > = 110
Abnormal ECG	ECG carried out for irregular pulse
Hypertension	Aged less than 80 years average repeat sitting systolic
	> = 180 mmHg or sitting diastolic
	> = 100 mmHg. To refer for either,
	standing systolic must be > = 140 mmHg
Untreated Angina	Positive on Rose chest pain questionnaire
Severe leg oedema	Swelling of legs up to knees on getting up in the morning
Severe shortness of breath	Short of breath on talking
Weight loss	Recent unexplained weight loss of more than half a stone
Depression	GDS score >7 and no treatment or more than 6 months on present treatment
History of recent falls	> 4 falls in previous 6 months
Infected MSU	MSU tested when patient reports urinary incontinence or has proteinuria or haematuria on dipstix
Other urinary problems (men)	Difficulty in micturition Nocturia more than twice nightly
Faecal incontinence	Soiling 3 or more times a week
Faecal occult blood	Blood in motions and stool specimen is positive for blood
Change in bowel habits	Constipation Diarrhoea
Haematemesis	Recent history of vomiting blood
Haemoptysis	Recent history of coughing up blood
Dysphagia	Difficulties swallowing
Glycosuria	Positive for glucose on dipstix
Abnormal biochemistry	Outside normal ranges for haemoglobin, white cell count, platelets, TSH, glucose, sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine, albumin, calcium, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartase-transaminase
Potential drug interactions	Modified version of the Stockley checklist
Any other serious condition warranting further investigation	Nurse judgement

¹ Excludes details on criteria for emergency referrals