THE NSW Government has announced it will open a new free, virtual care service for adults in Sydney next month.
VirtualADULTS will provide virtual urgent care via video consultation to tens of thousands of people across NSW for illnesses or injuries such as coughs, colds, fevers or flu; respiratory conditions; vomiting and diarrhoea; minor infections; and rashes.
The initiative is projected to save 85,000 people from an unnecessary wait in an emergency department every year.
People can access the service by phoning HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where they will speak to a registered nurse who can assess their condition and, if appropriate, be referred to VirtualADULTS.
VirtualADULTS will use video conferencing to connect patients with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, providing advice where clinically appropriate.
It will initially be available from 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday, and extended to 8am to 10pm Monday to Sunday from February 2025.
The launch of VirtualADULTS follows the successful statewide expansion of the NSW virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service, which has provided services to more than 10,000 children across NSW.
"Virtual care has made tremendous progress, accelerated in part by the pandemic, and it is becoming an increasingly embraced model of care, allowing people to be treated from the comfort of home," said NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. KB
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