The Virtual Urgent Care Service provides specialist emergency advice and care via video call and connects you with the right follow-up care for your condition. 

This is a free service. A referral from a health professional is required.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this service, you must: 

• be aged 16 years or older or the parent of an infant/child over 3 months
• have been assessed as suitable by your referring clinician or the Virtual Urgent Care senior doctor or nurse
• have given your consent
• have access to video call using a phone or tablet if follow-up is required
   

What to expect

Specialist assessment 

After an in-person assessment, your referring health professional will contact the Virtual Urgent Care Service to discuss your ongoing care. Your referring clinician might be a doctor, nurse, hospital emergency department clinician or paramedic. 

Then you will join a video call with the Virtual Urgent Care senior doctor or nurse. If you do not feel comfortable using video call, please speak to your referring health professional.

Treatment plan

The Virtual Urgent Care senior doctor or nurse will develop a treatment plan with you. This plan may include: 

• Important information to help you get better
• Prescriptions for medications like antibiotics
• Referral to other rpavirtual programs or your GP
• Planned follow-up by the Virtual Urgent Care specialist team in the days following your assessment
• Information about your healthcare rights and privacy

Virtual Urgent Care will not delay your treatment or care. Our specialist team will help you to receive the care you need in the right place.

Please let us know if you need an interpreter or have special needs, for example, hearing problems. Psychology and Social Work Services are also available. 

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are offered cultural support from Aboriginal Health Workers.

How to access

Referrals are accepted from Sydney Local Health District, NSW Ambulance, General Practice and Broken Hill Hospital, Far West NSW Local Health District. See the Information for Professionals page.

Additional information

Joining your virtual appointment via Microsoft Teams:

1. To join your appointment, click the link in the SMS or email from your clinician. 
   Enter your name and click "Get started".
2. Allow access to camera and microphone.
3. Preview camera. Then click "Enter lobby".
4. Wait for your appointment to start.

Having trouble

Microsoft Teams virtual appointments work best on Chrome, Safari or Edge browsers. Please note, other browsers may not be compatible.

You will be unable to join the appointment if you selected "Block" when asked to access the camera and microphone. To fix this:

1. Click the link in your SMS or email to reload the page. This time, make sure you allow access to camera and microphone.
2. If you do not have the option to give access to camera and microphone, you will need to access Settings > Site Permissions > Camera / Microphone and remove the website from the “Blocked” list.
3. Refresh the page to rejoin the appointment.

If you need support connecting to your virtual appointment, please call our Virtual Care Centre on 1800 325 065.