NSW Health Minister Ryan Park MP joins RPA Virtual team to launch new service to relieve pressure on emergency departments.
 

virtualADULTS is the latest virtual initiative to launch in Sydney Local Health District.

The new urgent care service will help ease the pressure on emergency departments and give people the option of receiving care in the community or at home.

“This is all about making sure we can deliver safe care, at the right place, at the right time, with the right staff,” said The Hon. Minister Ryan Park MP, NSW Health Minister.

He was joined by Deb Willcox AM, District Chief Executive, Miranda Shaw, RPA Virtual Hospital General Manager, and RPA Virtual colleagues to announce the launch of the service, set to begin in early December.

The initiative will start in Sydney Local Health District, RPA Virtual is one of two hubs that will operate the service, it will deliver virtualADULTS to all of metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and the Central Coast.

The regional hub will begin operating early next year. The two hubs will service local patients, before their reach is expanded statewide at the end of 2025.

The Minister estimates that once fully implemented, 85,000 patients will use this service in a year, with doctors and nursing staff able to treat people via video call for a range of conditions that are deemed urgent but not life-threatening.

“It’s about those issues that you might normally see a GP for, but for some reason can’t access in a timely hour, this is about filing that gap. It works because of skilled clinicians, fantastic nursing staff, and really strong clinical leads as well as allied health care professionals who work in multidisciplinary teams providing care to patients where they need it most,” Minister Park said.

“I want to thank the team here at Sydney Local Health District, the clinicians, nursing staff, allied health professionals and everyone involved in this initiative.”

Dr Jeremy Fry, Emergency Medicine Staff Specialist at RPA Virtual Hospital and at RPA Emergency Department, expressed his appreciation of the initiative to help the community get better, faster.

“My colleagues and I have seen and experienced first-hand what can be an overwhelming and exhausting experience for patients in emergency departments. This includes overcrowding in clinical spaces and waiting areas, and the often-extended wait times for care,” he said.

“Through working at RPA Virtual Hospital, we have also seen the seen the immense possibilities offered by virtual urgent care to safely reduce the burden on our emergency departments. This new service will mean less waiting time for patients.”

For free, 24/7 health advice and access to health services like virtualADULTS from anywhere in NSW, people can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.