The Respiratory service at Barwon Health runs multiple specialist clinics including a general respiratory clinic as well as clinics for lung cancer, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension and severe chronic lung disease. We also run a rapid review clinic so that we can see our patients leaving hospital promptly for follow up.
Conditions seen
Barwon Health offers a general respiratory service for a broad range of respiratory diseases including but not limited to:
- asthma
- COPD
- interstitial lung disease
- sarcoidosis
The chronic lung disease clinic sees patients with severe chronic lung disease, usually COPD, or those who have poor disease control with frequent hospital admissions or exacerbations. These patients may also be on home oxygen.
The pulmonary vascular clinic sees all patients with pulmonary hypertension for assessment and management, and patients who have had pulmonary embolism for follow up and screening for complications.
The lung cancer service takes referrals for probable lung cancer and our lung nodule clinic takes referrals for lung nodules, including those identified as part of the national lung cancer screening program.
Conditions not seen
Barwon Health Respiratory service does not accept referrals for sleep disordered breathing.
Referrals for undifferentiated conditions, such as cough, have strict criteria (see below).
How do I access this service?
To be seen in one of our specialist clinics you need to be referred by your GP, another specialist doctor or your Barwon Health doctor.
We are unable to see you in our clinics without a referral.
Appointment timeframe
All requests for specialist clinic appointments are scheduled according to the patient’s clinical need. Clinicians assess whether an appointment is urgent or routine, based on information provided in the referral.
Barwon Health aims to offer a first appointment within 30 days to all patients with urgent problems. Patients with routine (non-urgent) problems are offered appointments as they become available.
The estimated waiting time for routine (non-urgent) first appointments is listed below as a general guide. This waiting time is reviewed and updated regularly.
For Health Professionals
State-referral criteria may apply for conditions under this specialty requiring further assessment and management. Referring clinicians are encouraged to utilise Western Victoria Community HealthPathways for referral guidelines and requirements for all conditions.
For urgent referral advice, please contact the specialty on-call registrar via Barwon Health switchboard on 03 4215 0000.
Please ensure your referral includes all the relevant information per the referral guidelines: Western Victoria Community HealthPathways. Referrals that do not meet these criteria may not be accepted until the necessary information has been provided.
Complete the specialist clinics referral template and send via:
- ReferralNet
- Fax: 03 4215 1383
Referral templates for Barwon Health services are available for importing into Best Practice, Medical Director or ZedMed. Please see the Referral templates page for the most up-to-date forms.
If you do not use the above clinical software, please complete a referral letter on your practice/health service letterhead, ensuring all required referral information is included.
If you need to contact us regarding the templates, please contact the GP Liaison Unit on 03 4215 8845 or [email protected].
For patients who require reassessment, a new referral should be sent through. To facilitate earlier access, the new referral must contain the following information:
- State the referral is an update for a current patient
- Date of original referral
- Reason for requesting a review of referral (e.g. deterioration in clinical condition, pathology)
The referrer will be notified of the outcome of the re-triage process.
GPs or referring doctors wishing to discuss the triage of their patient’s referral, or who require additional information, please ring the GP hotline on 03 4215 1398.
Page last updated: January 14, 2026