The state government’s free virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service is now available to all children and families across NSW, using video conferencing technology to connect families with a clinical nurse to determine the best care pathway based on each child’s needs.
Hoping the statewide rollout will mean parents and kids can avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital and potentially long, after-hours waits, the use of the service will also put downward pressure on emergency departments, helping patients be seen sooner.
“This program is free and can help you and your child avoid a stressful trip to an emergency department,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
“It allows families to be seen faster while reducing pressure on already stretched emergency departments and out frontline healthcare workers. The state government is working hard to rebuild our health system and ease wait times, and urgent care teams are part of that.”
NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health, Ryan Park, said the expansion of virtualKIDS forms part of a commitment to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025.
“The expansion of the virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service statewide will also see it provide specialist paediatric advice to clinicians in rural and regional hospitals, and to paramedics in non-emergency situations”, he added.
Since accepting calls from across NSW late last month, almost 1000 families and their children have benefited, with the service expected to continue to support at least 500 children and their families each month. Roughly two in three kids referred to the Urgent Care Service avoid needing to step foot in an emergency department.
Delivered by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) and Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) in partnership with healthdirect, the virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service is for children up to 16 years of age with non-threatening health concerns. There is no cost to parents or carers if their child has a Medicare card.
For life-threatening emergencies, parents and carers should call 000 for an ambulance or go to a hospital emergency department immediately.
