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Referral services
General outpatient referral
This service is for patients who are requesting information, advice, and management of their alcohol and drug issues.
The following services and programs are provided by Turning Point:
- Individual and group counselling
- Consultation by an Addiction Medicine Specialist – for assessment, advice or management of substance dependence
- Specialist interventions for methamphetamine users
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) consultation
- Outreach services – including a Home Based Withdrawal service
- Forensic client service
- Mental health interventions
Download a General Outpatient referral form. PDF (43kb). Word (82kb).
Alcohol misuse assessment and treatment service
The alcohol misuse assessment and treatment service provides treatment for withdrawal and dependence, or secondary consultation for assessment and treatment advice. Access to this service is by referral from a general practitioner.
Referrers will receive support from specialists trained in treating addiction and alcohol related problems to intervene early, prevent escalation of health problems, and manage existing health problems more effectively. The addiction medicine specialists will also provide support to GPs through providing pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence.
Download an Alcohol misuse assessment and treatment service referral form. PDF (134kb). Word (86kb).
Chronic pain and analgesia consultancy service
The Turning Point Chronic Pain and Analgesia Consultancy Service provides advice to medical practitioners in the use and management of medications in the treatment of chronic pain.
The aim of the service is to provide assistance to medical practitioners wanting a secondary consult in the treatment of complex chronic pain problems. Common reasons for referral are when medical practitioners are having difficulty stabilising a patient’s medications, when they are concerned about a patient misusing their medication or abusing other substances, or when a patient is exhibiting drug seeking or other difficult behaviours.
This service provides secondary consultations on pain issues only. Patients referred to this consultancy service will be seen by an Addiction Medicine Physician and a Psychologist, through the Medicare Extended Primary Care (EPC) Program. A written report will then be forwarded to the referring practitioner advising on the referral question.
The service does not provide ongoing pain management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, physical or occupational rehabilitation programs, or other ancillary services.
For ongoing pain management services the following can be contacted: Barwon Health, Bayside Health (CGMC), Melbourne Health (Parkville), St Vincent’s Health Barbara Walker Pain Management Centre and Wadonga Regional Health Service.
Please note, a GP Management Plan (Medicare Item 721 or review item 727) and a Team Care Arrangement (Medicare Item 723 or review item 727) needs to be in place for patients.
Download a Chronic Pain and Analgesia Consultancy Service referral form (pdf 70kb).
Download an Allied Health referral form (pdf 141kb).
Specialist pharmacotherapy service
The specialist pharmacotherapy service is a secondary referral program for patients who are currently on opioid substitution pharmacotherapy (i.e. methadone or buprenorphine) prescribed by a GP and dispensed by a community pharmacy.
Concerns about pharmacotherapy can arise due to:
- Continued unstable and hazardous drug and/or alcohol use
- Inappropriate behaviour
- Comorbid mental health disorders
- Other medical disorders complicating the provision of pharmacotherapy
- Psychosocial crises (eg domestic violence, court related issues)
- Other situations of increased risk (eg pregnancy)
Patients may be referred to Turning Point:
- For the Turning Point clinic to take over care, due to either clinical or behavioural instability
- For advice or a 2nd opinion to aid in management (stays with current prescriber and dosing site)
Download a specialist pharmacotherapy service referral form. PDF (173kb). Word (121kb).
Psychology service
Psychological therapy is available at Turning Point for people who are wishing to reduce or abstain from using drugs or alcohol.
The psychologist can assist a person to make changes to their substance using behaviour as well as develop strategies on how to improve mood, anxiety and mental health.
Psychology at Turning Point is Medicare funded so people who wish to see a psychologist for help with a drug or alcohol problem need to be referred by their GP or psychiatrist. Turning Point bulk bills which means people can access the service at no cost.
More information about the service can be found here.
Download a psychology service referral form. PDF (198kb). Word (37kb).
NOTE ABOUT REFERRALS
The completed referral forms can be returned to Turning Point by fax to (03) 9486 9766 or mail to Turning Point Clinical Services, 54-62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 3065.
Please ensure that the appropriate Medicare items are in place and the referral form is completed otherwise the referral will not be accepted.
Once the referral has been reviewed by Turning Point’s senior medical staff, an appointment will be allocated. The appointment details will be sent to both the patient and the referring doctor.
For further information about the service please contact Turning Point Clinical Services on: (03) 8413 8444.
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