For outpatient clinics, allocation of the clinical urgency category is assigned on the following basis: 

Code 1 Category 1 
- Appointment within thirty (30 days) is desirable; and
- Condition will require more complex or emergent care if assessment is delayed; and
- Condition will have significant impact on quality of life if care is delayed beyond thirty (30) days.

Code 2 Category 2 
- Appointment within ninety (90) days is desirable; and
- Condition has potential to require more complex care if assessment is delayed; and 
- Condition has the potential to have some impact on the quality of life if care delayed beyond ninety (90) days.

Code 3 Category 3 
- Appointment within 365 days is desirable; and
- Condition is unlikely to deteriorate quickly; and 
- Condition is unlikely to require more complex care if assessment is delayed beyond 365 days.

SUPPLEMENTARY CODE
Code 9 Unclassified 
A request for service has not been allocated a clinical urgency category.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSIGNMENT
The Medical Officer responsible for the specialty should assign the clinical urgency category, following an assessment of the patient's service request. This task may be delegated to a nominated officer (e.g.: medical registrar, resident or senior registered nurse) where clinical urgency assessment protocols have been clearly defined and documented.

Assigning a clinical urgency category requires the fulfilment of all criteria for that category. 
If a patient does not fulfil all criteria for Category 1, Category 2 is considered. 
If the patient does not fulfil all criteria for Category 2, then the patient is allocated Category 3 status. 

A clinical urgency category (i.e. category 1, 2, or 3) should be defined within five working days following an outpatient clinic service request-receipt date.