Residents from the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health district will be able to access free and safe virtual care for non-life threatening conditions, right from the comfort of their own home.

This virtual care service will provide care for urgent but non-life threatening illnesses or injuries including:

• Coughs, colds, fevers and flu;
• Respiratory symptoms;
• Vomiting and diarrhoea; or
• Minor infections and rashes.

The service will be available between 8am and 10pm seven days a week for people aged 16 years and older.

You can access this service by phoning HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where patients will first speak to a registered nurse who will assess your condition, and if appropriate, refer you to the virtual care service.

The service uses video conferencing technology to connect patients with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, where clinically appropriate.

Virtual care forms part of a broader range of measures to relieve pressure on the state’s busy EDs, including:

• $100 million investment for a further two years to continue our urgent care services, providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients;
• $70 million over 4 years to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours;
• $15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times;
• $31.4 million over 4 years to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed; and
• $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identifying patients early that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Illawarra & South Coast Ryan Park:

“We are announcing that virtual care for non-life threatening conditions is now available to residents of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

“This virtual care service is a free, convenient and safe way to access care right from the comfort of home.

“People from right across our local health district will be able to avoid for a wait for a GP or in a hospital through this expanded virtual care service.

“It will relieve pressure on our busy emergency departments by creating more alternative pathways to care outside the hospital.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“The inclusion of the Illawarra in the expansion of free virtual healthcare services adds to the efforts that the Minns Government has undertaken to make health services more accessible.

“It also compliments services such as the additional Medicare Urgent Care Centres delivered by the Albanese Government to the region providing more options for more people to obtain more health services when they need them most.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:

“This initiative by the Minns Government will greatly benefit the Shellharbour electorate and the broader Illawarra region.

“It is particularly valuable for those who are unable to leave their homes to visit a GP.

“These individuals will now have access to the highest quality healthcare through virtual services.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart:

“I thank the Health Minister, Ryan Park for this new initiative to modernise our health care sector with the announcement of virtual healthcare services across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

“This will make a real difference to my constituents-accessible easy health care for urgent but not life-threatening illnesses, taking pressure off our Emergency Departments."

Quotes attributable to Member for South Coast Liza Butler:

“This is fantastic news for our community. People in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven will now have
access to free, high-quality healthcare without the need to sit in a waiting room for hours.

“This service means people can get the care they need quickly and safely—whether it’s for a cough, a fever, or a minor infection—without having to visit a hospital or GP clinic in person.

“Expanding virtual care is a practical solution that will take pressure off our busy emergency
departments while ensuring people still get the medical attention they need.”