Urinary incontinence

​​​​​​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 retention
  • Fournier's gangrene
  • Frank haematuria
  • Urinary incontinence with any evidence of cauda equina symptoms
  • Urosepsis

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • < 6 weeks from a gynaecological procedure
    Note: recommended to seek advice from treating doctor
  • Post-partum < 6 weeks with overflow incontinence
  • Urinary incontinence as a complication of poorly controlled diabetes (i.e. neurogenic bladder)
    Note: referral to urologist is indicated
  • Urinary tract malignancy
    Note: referral to urologist may be indicated

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days.

  • Gynaecological cause requiring catheterisation with
    any of the following features:
    • Difficulty voiding with acute renal impairment
    • Failed trial of void requiring indwelling catheter
    • New onset of urinary retention ​
​

Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days.


  • Urinary incontinence with a gynaecological cause and any of the following features:
    • Chronic urinary retention requiring catheterisation without renal impairment
    • Complications post-incontinence procedure
    • Voiding difficulties with or without significant post-void residual volumes on bladder ultrasound​

Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days.

  • ​​Uncomplicated urinary incontinence


Note: patients are recommended to undertake a trial of pelvic floor physiotherapy concurrent to gynaecology referral

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral
  • Details of the presenting condition, including symptoms and their duration
  • Provisional diagnosis
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions), including specifically:
    • Body mass index
    • Quality of life concerns (including missed work, study or family)
    • Pelvic examination findings
    • Pelvic ultrasound (trans-vaginal preferred)
    • Kidneys, ureters and bladder ultrasound (with post-volume residuals included)
    • Relevant diagnostic or imaging reports
    • Mid-stream urine (MSU) result
    • Cervical screening test within the last 5 years​

If available

  • Bladder diary (including intake or output)
  • Urine cytology
  • Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screen (including human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis serology, chlamydia and gonorrhoea – endocervical swab for culture and endocervical polymerase chain reaction swab or urine sample) (where relevant)​

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