Failure to thrive in paediatric cardiology patients

​​Emergency

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

  • Failure to thrive with signs of congestive heart failure

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • Failure to thrive without signs of heart disease

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days

  • Failure to thrive with signs, symptoms or investigations suggestive of heart disease

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral
  • Details of the presenting condition, including symptoms and their duration, and impact on activities of daily living and school attendance
  • Provisional diagnosis
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions)

If available

  • Cardiac investigations including electrocardiogram (ECG)

  • Growth charts

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: Thursday 10 September 2026
Contact page owner: System Purchasing