Information for referring GPs
The following is general information for GPs who refer patients to the Rockingham Peel Group.
Catchment areas
Rockingham Peel Group provides a range of inpatient, outpatient and community services for our patients from a range of healthcare sites within the Rockingham, Kwinana and Peel regions.
The Rockingham General Hospital catchment area includes communities within Rockingham and Kwinana extending from Naval Base in the north, to Singleton in the south, and east to Wellard.
The Mental Health Service catchment area cares for residents across the Rockingham Kwinana and Peel Health Districts, extending from Cockburn in the North to Waroona in the south.
Referrals
Our General Practitioners contact list (PDF 212KB) is available to assist GPs with patient referrals to Rockingham General Hospital.
Where possible, before sending patients to the Emergency Department, GPs should contact the relevant team during the specified hours.
For advice regarding the urgent care of a particular patient, most specialities have a consultant and/or registrar on call 24 hours/7 days.
Please let us know on your referral if an interpreter is required, and for which language.
RGH outpatient referrals
All non-urgent GP and private specialist referrals to doctor-led outpatient clinics at RGH are coordinated through the WA Health Central Referral Service (CRS) (external site).
Referrals are allocated according to the patient’s residential address, medical condition, the level of care required and the waiting times at various facilities.
Fax: 1300 365 056
Postal address: GPO Box 2566, St Georges Terrace, WA 6831
RGH referral service
Some referrals are out of scope for the CRS, including referrals to obstetrics, mental health, nursing and allied health services. These referrals should be directed to the RGH Referral Service:
Fax: 9599 4659
Email: rhout@mmex.gsmhn.com.au
Urgent referral service
GPs should telephone the relevant specialty at RGH (see the GP Contact list PDF 212KB) and if the patient is accepted a referral should be faxed or emailed to the RGH referral service immediately.
Fax: 9599 4659
Email: rhout@mmex.gsmhn.com.au
Obtaining medical records
Please fax a medical information request on letterhead to Medical Records – Information Request on 9599 4620 or 9599 4474 to obtain the following records:
- discharge summaries
- outpatient letters
- procedure reports
If this is not the GP as recorded by the patient on our patient management system then a breach of patient confidentiality exists. In such circumstances, as per Department of Health policy, the GP practice should also provide a copy of the patient's consent to verify the patient approves this GP accessing their personal records.
Contracted medical practitioners
Some specialists who practise privately also have access to public surgical lists at Rockingham General Hospital and Peel Health Campus. The specialists listed here require a named referral to their private rooms for an initial outpatient consultation, and where surgery is required, can provide this in a non-tertiary public hospital (where clinically appropriate) at no cost to the patient.
Referral to one of these contracted medical practitioners (CMPs) may result in shorter waiting times for patients. These referrals may be sent directly to the specialist, or via secure messaging to the Central Referral Service.
NB. Where a gap fee may be payable for the outpatient appointment, this is indicated.
See the full list of CMPs working in the south metropolitan area (external site).
SMHS GP Engage
GP Engage events provides opportunities for local primary care professionals to learn about shared care priorities, processes and programs across South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) and its hospitals
The events blend education, Q&A sessions and networking opportunities. Continuing professional development (CPD) content (self-logged) may be recorded after each event, with an attendance certificate provided.
Read about future SMHS GP Engage events (external site) or review past event presentations.
RkPG Hospital Liaison GP
Dr Michelle McNamara is the Hospital Liaison General Practitioner for Rockingham General Hospital. Her role focuses on promoting clear and relevant communication between the hospital and primary care providers. Michelle is responsible for representing general practice in the development of hospital and health service policies and can be contacted for any non-clinical enquiries.