AUSTRALIA | Free virtual healthcare has been made accessible to all residents of Sydney following an announcement by the NSW State Government.
The New South Wales State Government has expanded a new free virtual healthcare service to all Sydney residents.
Residents from Western Sydney, South West Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health districts will be able to access free and safe virtual care for non-life threatening conditions, right from the comfort of their own home.
It is expected to save 85,000 people from an unnecessary wait in an emergency department each year.
This virtual care service will provide care for urgent but non-life threatening illnesses or injuries including coughs, colds, fevers and flu, respiratory symptoms, vomitting and diarrhoea, or minor infections and rashes.
The service will be available between 8am and 10pm seven days a week for people aged 16 years and older.
Residents can access this service by phoning HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 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.
Virtual care forms part of a broader range of measures to relieve pressure on the state’s busy EDs.
It has offered AUD 100 million investment for a further two years to continue our urgent care services, providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients, and AUD 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.
More than AUD 15 million has been allocated 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, and AUD 31.4 million over four years to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed.
The service has also provided AUD 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.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the virtual care is a free, convinient and safe way to access care right from the comfort of home.
“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,” said Park.
“It will relieve pressure on our busy emergency departments by creating more alternative pathways to care outside the hospital.”
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