The virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service – a video link between health services and families with children – will be rolled out state-wide before the end of the year but there is no news yet on when Broken Hill will be included.
The program was set-up by Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) to care for children virtually during the Covid pandemic and it worked so well it is now being expanded.
Currently available in just three regions across the state, the proposed state-wide rollout should help families, especially those in more remote locations, to access the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.
The program uses video conferencing technology to connect families with a clinical nurse to determine the best care pathway and care provider based on each child’s needs, whether this is a trip to an emergency department, a consultation with a virtualKIDS expert paediatrician, or a visit to their local GP or urgent care centre.
“This allows families to access care faster and avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, while also helping to reduce pressure on busy emergency departments in cases where children’s care can be safely and more appropriately managed at home with the support of a clinician or by their general practitioner,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns at the announcement on Sunday.
