All Sydney residents can now see a doctor for non-life-threatening illnesses from the comfort of their home through a new free virtual healthcare service.
The service has been expanded to include Western Sydney, southwest Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and the Illawarra Shoalhaven, NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park announced on Tuesday.
With the new service, people aged 16 and older living in Sydney will no longer need to wait in an emergency department for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as coughs, colds, fevers, flu, respiratory symptoms, vomiting, diarrhoea, or minor infections and rashes.
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“People from right across Sydney will be able to avoid a wait for a GP or in a hospital through this expanded virtual care service,” Park said.
“It will relieve pressure on our busy emergency departments by creating more alternative pathways to care outside the hospital.”
Patients can simply call HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 between 8am and 10pm any day of the week to speak with a registered nurse, who will assess their condition.
If necessary, the nurse will refer the patient to the virtual care service, which involves a video consultation with a well-rounded team of clinicians, including doctors and nurses.
The free service is expected to save 85,000 people from spending time waiting in emergency departments each year.
It is part of NSW’s broader plan to ease pressure on the emergency department.
