October 28, 2022
Residents across Queensland can now call a Virtual Emergency Department run by Queensland Health in Brisbane instead of heading to the nearest hospital.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the initiative, set up by Metro North Health during the height of the COVID emergency, had been expanded to cover all the State.
Patients needing urgent non-life-threatening care can receive emergency treatment via telehealth at home.
“This is already making a difference in Brisbane’s northside and we want to replicate that success around Queensland,” Ms D’Ath said.
“It’s not only relieving demand on our busy emergency departments but it’s providing a streamlined and comfortable service to patients in their own home, by allowing people to access expert clinical advice remotely.
“The other benefit? It limits the number of people with contagious illnesses like COVID from presenting at hospitals, protecting our hard-working and indispensable health professionals from exposure.”
The service is run by senior Emergency Department staff who are experienced in triaging and diagnosing a multitude of emergency conditions. They are available to treat, refer and prescribe medication accordingly for the patients.
The Virtual Emergency Department service comes under the umbrella of the Connected Community Pathways initiative, a $67.5 million commitment by the State Government to improve clinical care.
Metro North Health ED Consultant Dr Kim Hansen said the extension of the service would benefit both patients and the health system alike.
“We see patients of all ages, from zero to 100 and beyond, and can diagnose their condition as well as prescribe and organise any medications or other treatment they may need,” Dr Hansen said.
“Common problems that we see and manage include COVID-19, common respiratory illness, children with fevers, gastroenteritis, minor injuries, vertigo, high blood pressure and back pain – anything you’d go to the Emergency Department for that can be assessed over a video call.
“We are open seven days a week, including weekday evenings until 10:00pm, where patients will be seen first by an experienced emergency nurse, and then by a senior emergency doctor.”
Queensland GPs and QAS staff can access the service to provide real-time emergency medicine assessment and support.
Since April 2020, the service has averaged 526 referrals a week.
- Patients seeking care can visit the Metro North Health virtual ED online
If the Government wants fewer people presenting at rural hospital emergency departments they need to introduce tax incentives to encourage more doctors to work in rural towns. Having to wait three weeks to see a doctor is ridiculous.
Also, finding a doctor on weekends is impossible.
It costs the Government a lot more if people attend a hospital rather than see a local doctor.