Virtual care can relieve pressure from the state’s busy emergency departments, according to new data released by the NSW Government.
Almost 24,000 consultations were delivered virtually through the NSW Government’s urgent care services between 1 July 2023 and 1 April 2024.
Urgent care services have been critical in providing patients with non-life threatening conditions with an alternative pathway to care outside of our hospitals.
A significant proportion of these services is delivered virtually.
The NSW Government has so far delivered 16 of 25 urgent care services across the state – four of these provide virtual care services, including VirtualKIDS and the Western Sydney Local Health District’s InTouch service.
VirtualKIDS commenced in Sydney in July last year, and expanded operations statewide in January.
The Western Sydney Local Health District’s InTouch service origins stem from the pandemic, but in July last year, it was expanded as a permanent service catering specifically for older residents in residential aged care facilities.
It comes as the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has today released reports showing increased use of virtual care compared to prior to the pandemic, as well as high rates of satisfaction and confidence among patients who use it.
BHI’s report titled ‘Virtual Care in NSW: Use and patients’ experiences’ shows that virtual care has established itself as a permanent and widespread form of care following the pandemic.
The report shows that 17 per cent of outpatient services provided by NSW Health to patients were delivered by virtual care.
BHI’s report titled ‘Patients’ experiences of virtual outpatient care in 2023’ also shows high rates of satisfaction among patients with 87 per cent of patients saying the health professional ‘always’ explained things in a way they could understand.
Eighty-four per cent of patients believed health professionals ‘definitely’ listened carefully to their views and concerns.
And 83 per cent said they ‘definitely’ had confidence and trust in the professionals treating them.
The BHI Virtual Care Patient Experience Survey is available on the BHI website.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said:
“These reports remind us of the opportunities that virtual care presents in alleviating pressure on our state’s busy emergency departments.
“Not only are we seeing virtual care becoming a more natural part of healthcare, but more importantly, we are also seeing high rates of satisfaction and confidence among patients.
“Virtual care means that people with non-life threatening conditions don’t need to wait in an emergency department.”