Sleep and Lung Care accepts referrals from GPs and specialists for respiratory and sleep medicine at Epping, Brunswick, Doncaster East, Braybrook and Kilmore. All new patients are seen in person for their first appointment; follow-up consultations can be by video where clinically appropriate. New consultations are usually available within about 3 weeks; urgent lung nodule and lung mass referrals are reviewed within 48 hours.
Online referral form Download templates Our physicians
Send a referral
- HealthLink secure messaging (preferred): EDI SALCCARE
- Online: the online referral form includes the Epworth and STOP-Bang questionnaires needed for direct sleep-study referrals
- Fax: (03) 9454 9339
- Email: reception@sleepandlungcare.com.au
Address the referral to “Sleep and Lung Care” for the first available physician, or name a specialist. Our reception team phones the patient to book at the clinic of their choice. Patients can also upload their referral themselves.
Urgent and rapid-access referrals
- Lung nodule or mass on imaging, haemoptysis, suspected lung cancer: our Rapid Access Lung Nodule / Lung Mass Clinic reviews patients within 48 hours. Mark the referral URGENT and phone (03) 9422 0077. Bronchoscopy and EBUS are available.
- Suspected severe sleep apnoea in a safety-critical occupation, or resting hypoxaemia: phone us on (03) 9422 0077 so we can prioritise the appointment.
Direct referral for bulk billed tests (no consultation needed)
- Home-based sleep study — bulk billed at all five clinics. For a direct referral based on screening scores, Medicare (item 12250) requires an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 8 or more and either a STOP-Bang score of 3 or more, an OSA-50 score of 5 or more, or a high-risk Berlin score. The Epworth and STOP-Bang questionnaires are built into our online referral form. Patients outside these criteria can be referred for a sleep physician consultation.
- Lung function tests — bulk billed at all five clinics: spirometry pre and post bronchodilator, gas transfer (TLCO), lung volumes (plethysmography), FeNO, bronchial provocation (mannitol), respiratory muscle strength (MIP/MEP/SNIP) and 6-minute walk / ambulatory oxygen assessment.
- Reports are returned to the referrer by HealthLink or fax and, where a physician review is needed, the patient is offered an appointment.
What to include
- Patient contact number and Medicare or DVA details
- Reason for referral and the clinical question
- Relevant history and current medications
- Results: spirometry, chest X-ray or CT reports, oximetry, sleep questionnaires
- Interpreter requirements and preferred clinic
- Referral validity: GP referrals last 12 months from the first appointment unless the GP specifies otherwise; specialist referrals 3 months
Templates for your practice software
Import the template into your software before opening it (do not open the RTF file directly). Current versions: printable referral form — July 2026; practice-software templates — updated 5 September 2026 (all five clinics, current addresses, HealthLink SALCCARE).
- Printable referral (PDF)
- Best Practice template (RTF)
- Medical Director template (RTF)
- Medinet template (RTF)
- Zedmed template (RTF)
- Hospital-based sleep study referral (PDF)
Video consultations
All new patients are seen in person for their first appointment so that clinical examination and testing can happen. Follow-up consultations can be by video from any of our clinics where clinically appropriate — useful for regional patients referred to our Kilmore clinic. We do not offer telephone consultations.
Fees
Lung function tests and home sleep studies are bulk billed with a valid referral. Reception can discuss consultation fees with patients when they book.
Where we consult
Epping, Brunswick, Doncaster East, Braybrook and Kilmore. All lung function tests and home sleep studies are available at every clinic. See our specialists for each physician’s special interests.
Questions GPs ask
Can I refer directly for a sleep study or lung function tests?
Yes. Use the online referral form or a template; tests are bulk billed and the report comes back to you. A physician consultation can be added if the results need it.
Do you accept e-referrals?
Yes — HealthLink EDI SALCCARE. Fax and email referrals are also accepted.
How long is the wait?
New appointments are usually available within about 3 weeks. The rapid access lung nodule clinic reviews urgent patients within 48 hours.
Can the patient choose the clinic?
Yes. Patients are booked at whichever of our five clinics suits them. The first appointment is always in person; follow-ups can be by video where clinically appropriate.
Do you see children?
Our physicians are adult respiratory and sleep specialists. Please refer children to a paediatric service.
Who do I call about an urgent result?
Phone (03) 9422 0077 and ask reception to put you through to the treating physician.
Preparing patients for lung function tests
Please give your patient these withholding times when you order tests — a patient who has taken a long-acting inhaler that morning may not have a valid pre-bronchodilator result or provocation test.
Preparing for your lung function test
Some medicines hide what the test is trying to measure. Unless your doctor or our reception team has told you otherwise, withhold the medicines below for the times shown before your appointment. Do not stop a medicine you need to stay safe — if you need your reliever, take it and tell the scientist when you arrive; we can still test you or rebook.
| Medicine (examples) | Spirometry, lung volumes, gas transfer, FeNO | Bronchial provocation (mannitol) |
|---|---|---|
| Reliever puffers — salbutamol (Ventolin, Asmol, Airomir), terbutaline (Bricanyl) | 4–6 hours | 8 hours |
| Ipratropium (Atrovent) | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Twice-daily long-acting and combination inhalers — Seretide, Symbicort, Flutiform, DuoResp, Fostair, Serevent, Oxis | 24 hours | 36 hours |
| Once-daily long-acting inhalers — Breo Ellipta, Trelegy, Anoro, Ultibro, Spiolto, Onbrez, Striverdi | 36–48 hours | 72 hours |
| Twice-daily triple-therapy inhalers (they contain a long-acting anticholinergic) — Trimbow, Breztri | 36–48 hours | 72 hours |
| Long-acting anticholinergics — Spiriva, Seebri, Incruse, Bretaris | 36–48 hours | 72 hours |
| Preventer-only inhaled steroid — Flixotide, Pulmicort, Qvar, Alvesco | Take as usual | Skip the morning dose (6 hours) |
| Montelukast (Singulair) | Take as usual | 4 days |
| Antihistamines — Zyrtec, Claratyne, Telfast, Phenergan | Take as usual | 72 hours |
| Theophylline (Nuelin) | Take as usual | 24 hours |
| Caffeine — coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate | Avoid on the morning of the test | 24 hours |
| Smoking or vaping | Not within 1 hour | Not within 1 hour |
| Alcohol | Not within 8 hours | Not within 8 hours |
| Vigorous exercise · a large meal | Not within 1 hour · not within 2 hours | Not within 1 hour · not within 2 hours |
Wear loose clothing, bring all your inhalers and a list of your medicines, and allow 45–90 minutes. Tests are bulk billed with a current referral. If you are unsure about any medicine, call (03) 9422 0077 before your appointment. These instructions were reviewed by our respiratory physicians on 10 September 2026.
Resources for GPs
The guidelines and tools our physicians work from, for the practice desk.
- COPD-X Plan — Australian and New Zealand guidelines for COPD, from Lung Foundation Australia and TSANZ
- Australian Asthma Handbook — national asthma guidelines from the National Asthma Council
- Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand — position statements and guidelines across respiratory and sleep medicine
- Lung Foundation Australia — health professionals — clinical tools, pulmonary rehabilitation referral and the Lung Learning Hub
- Australasian Sleep Association — clinical resources on sleep disorders
- Austroads — Assessing Fitness to Drive — the licensing standards for sleep apnoea, narcolepsy and other conditions
- National Lung Cancer Screening Program — eligibility, the healthcare-provider section and Medicare items; we are a participating clinic
- Our sleep apnoea questionnaire — Epworth, OSA-50 and STOP-Bang scored on the page; patients can print or send their scores, which covers the MBS item 12250 criteria above
- Preparing for lung function tests — the patient version of the withholding table above (printable PDF)
- Trusted resources for patients — Lung Foundation, Sleep Health Foundation, Quitline, driving and licensing, vaccination
Printable patient instructions for lung function tests (PDF)