The service uses video conferencing technology to connect patients with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians.
Sydneysiders have a new free virtual health service that the state government is expecting will save 85,000 people a year from an unnecessary hospital emergency department wait.
This virtual care service is designed for urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries including coughs, colds, fevers and flu; respiratory symptoms; vomiting and diarrhoea; and minor infections and rashes.
It will be available between 8am and 10pm seven days a week for people aged 16 years and older, from the Western Sydney, South West Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health districts.
Access to the free service is initially through Healthdirect, where patients will first speak to a registered nurse who will assess their condition, and if appropriate, refer them to the virtual care service.
The service uses video conferencing technology to connect patients with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, where clinically appropriate.
NSW health minister Ryan Park announced the new service this week at a media conference at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
“This virtual care service is a free, convenient and safe way to access care right from the comfort of home,” he said.
“People from right across Sydney will be able to avoid for a wait for a GP or in a hospital through this expanded virtual care service.
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“It will relieve pressure on our busy emergency departments by creating more alternative pathways to care outside the hospital.”
Virtual care forms part of a broader range of measures to relieve pressure on the state’s busy EDs, including a $100 million investment for a further two years to continue urgent care services, providing a pathway to care outside of hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients.
The government has also invested $70 million over four years to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours; $15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times.
In addition, a further $31.4 million over four years has been allocated to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed; and $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identifying patients early that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.