There are some conditions that will always require emergency Ambulance assistance - Advice caller to Dial OOO
If the patient refuses, refer call to nurse or GP immediately
AMBULANCE OOO 

  • Assault including a stabbing or shooting or an assault using another weapon
  • Bite or sting from any large spider, snake or suspected venomous creature
  • Breathing difficulties(severe) - can only speak in short sentences
  • Chest pain or chest tightness (Chest pain lasting longer than 20 minutes or that is associated with sweating, shortness of breath or radiation to another part of the body is to be considered a ‘heart attack’ until proven otherwise, regardless of the age of the patient).
  • Fainting
  • Fall from greater than the patient's own height 
  • Fitting infant/ toddler 
  • Heart palpitations (severe)
  • Injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident >60km/h or pedestrian/cyclist >30km/h
  • Overdose, poisoning or attempted suicide
  • Respiratory and/or Cardiac Arrest
  • Seizure without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy
  • Seizures that are frequent and/or repeating in an epileptic patient
  • Severe burns, particularly in young children (greater than the victims hand or if deeper than the top layer of skin in any person)
  • Severe pain for any reason
  • Sudden collapse or unexplained fall
  • Sudden onset of weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
  • Suspected severe allergic reaction/ anaphylaxis
  • Suspected spinal injury
  • Unconsciousness
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • Unexplained fitting in adults
  • Vomiting blood

The above list has been formulated to assist practice staff in establishing the broad risk patients based on their chief complaint and/or situation.  It is not designed to be diagnostic but to assist practice staff in the timely referral to practice clinical staff and other places of care for emergency matters.  This system is based on a variety of clinical guidelines and evidence from general practice feedback.  The authors have prepared this resource for practices based on the information available at the time.  As the authors cannot control how the resource is used in practices, they accept no liability for using or not using this information.