New Free Virtual Health Service Opens To Western And Far West Nsw Residents

The NSW Government has expanded a new free virtual healthcare service to residents in Western and Far West NSW.

Residents will be able to access free and safe virtual care for non-life threatening conditions, right from the comfort of their own home.

This virtual care service will provide care for urgent but non-life threatening illnesses or injuries including:

• Coughs, colds, fevers and flu;
• Respiratory symptoms;
• Vomiting 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.

You can access this service by phoning HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where patients will first speak to a registered nurse who will assess your condition, and if appropriate, refer you 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, including:

• $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
• $70 million over 4 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
• $31.4 million over 4 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 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.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park, said:

“Today, we are announcing that virtual care for non-life threatening conditions will now be available in Western and Far West NSW.

“This virtual care service is a free, convenient and safe way to access care right from the comfort of home.

“People will be able to avoid for a wait for a GP or in a hospital through this expanded virtual care service.

“It will relieve pressure on our busy emergency departments by creating more alternative pathways to care outside the hospital.”

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