Cervical cancer

​​​​​​​​Emergency 

If any of the following are suspected, seek emergency medical advice or refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary)

  • Acute urinary obstruction resulting from known malignancy
  • Febrile neutropaenia during chemotherapy treatment
    Note: contact medical oncologist or treating team following emergency department presentation
  • Significant or uncontrolled vaginal bleeding
  • Urinary retention resulting from known malignancy

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • ​Nil

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days.
  • ​​High suspicion of cancer or visible suspicious cervical mass, even if cervical screening tests are normal
  • Pathology or abnormal cervical screening confirming:
    • ​​Adenocarcinoma
      Note: for optimum care, patient should be reviewed within 2 weeks
    • Invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
      Note: for optimum care, patient should be reviewed within 2 weeks
  • ​Signs or symptoms indicating possible cancer recurrence in patients with a history of cervical cancer
    Note: for optimum care, patient should be reviewed within 2 weeks​
​Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 
9​0 calendar days.​
  • ​Nil​

Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days.​​

  • Nil​​

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral
  • Details of the presenting condition, including symptoms and their duration
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, allergies and/or adverse reactions), including specifically:
    • Past medical, surgical, obstetric, psychosocial history
    • Family history (where relevant)
    • Blood loss history
    • Hormonal contraception use
    • Height, weight and body mass index
    • Pelvic examination findings
    • Full blood count (FBC)
    • Urea, Electrolytes, Creatinine (UEC)
    • Liver function tests (LFTs)
    • Blood glucose levels (BGLs)
    • Most recent cervical screening test or co-test result
    • National cervical screening history results
    • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination history
    • Diagnostic pathology reports, including pathology provider and accession number)
    • Diagnostic imaging reports, including imaging provider and accession number​

If available

  • Nil​

Important information for referring health professionals

If there is a change to a patient’s condition while waiting for their appointment, referring health professionals may further investigate and manage the situation, or send an updated referral to the outpatient service. Where there are significant concerns about a patient's condition, referring health professionals may check HealthPathways for urgent/same day advice or contact the relevant clinical team.​​

Current as at: Monday 23 March 2026
Contact page owner: System Purchasing