Two successful virtual health care services – including one that keeps children out of hospital – will get significant funding boosts in the State Budget as part of a $130.1 million injection into virtual healthcare to help free up hospital beds.
The Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service (CAVUCS) will receive $30.8 million over the next four years in a permanent extension of the popular service that was funded temporarily during COVID, connecting families remotely with a virtual team of highly skilled emergency doctors and nurses at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
In addition, the adult SA Virtual Care Service (SAVCS) will receive $67.8 million over five years to make this service permanent and expand its services – reducing emergency department presentations by providing virtual care by senior doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
The funding boosts will address pressures within the health system by providing alternative ways people can access health care away from emergency departments, helping to improve patient flow through our hospitals to free up beds.
The children’s virtual care service has seen more than 24,320 patients since opening in August 2021, with 90 per cent of them (21,862 families and young patients) avoiding an unnecessary trip to the ED.
The service also works closely with the SA Ambulance Service and has enabled 1,020 ambulances to treat children at home instead of being taken to hospital. This also helps paramedics avoid a trip to the ED and get back on the road faster for people who need emergency care.
The service is available to families across South Australia, saving families in regional areas more than 1 million kilometres and 19,100 hours in travel time to an ED.
About 18,000 people have used the adult virtual care service since it was established in December 2021, with 80 per cent of patients avoiding an unnecessary trip to the ED and receiving high quality, safe, individualised care at home, or via more appropriate services in the community.
On top of the additional funding for the two virtual health care services, the new State Health Control Centre will receive $31.5 million over five years to upscale its operations to its full capability.
The initial phase of the Centre launched last month out of Tonsley but will move to the new SA Ambulance Service Headquarters at Mile End when it opens in 2025. It will provide 24/7 support and oversight of our health and hospital system, improving patient flow, and reducing hospital overcrowding.
The upscaled centre will consist of a boosted multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, including nursing staff, medical staff and paramedics, supported by expertise in predictive data and analytics, simulation, training and logistics.
The ongoing funding of the successful virtual health care services is part of an almost $200 million budget package to address the ramping crisis.
Quotes
Attributable to Peter Malinauskas
We were clear at the election that we were committed to reducing ramping so that when South Australians call an ambulance, they can expect it to turn up on time.
We’re making massive investments to improve the system, but a key challenge is the number of patients who present to an ED sicker than they otherwise would be because of a nationwide shortage of GPs.
These virtual care services have already demonstrated they can play a vital role in helping people get the help they need without leaving home, easing pressure on the system.
Attributable to Stephen Mullighan
This significant funding boost in measures to free up hospital beds is an important part of this Government’s continuing record investment in health, and demonstrates our Government’s commitment to doing whatever is necessary to improve our health system for the South Australian community.
We’re investing a significant amount into virtual care as we’ve seen how effectively these services can provide high level care in a setting that is better for our patients.
Attributable to Chris Picton
When you’ve got a sick child, you can’t get into a GP and you don’t need to go to an ED, our virtual care service can provide timely, safe health care in your own home. Our adult virtual care service offers the same convenience and care for older South Australians.
These services not only provide convenient and practical health care for unwell South Australians and their families, but importantly they also take pressure off our EDs and hospital system.
They help patients avoid an unnecessary trip to the emergency department which is a key factor in our efforts to reduce overcrowding at our major hospitals.
Attributable to CAVUCS Medical Unit Head and Paediatric Emergency Specialist, Dr Benjamin D’Souza
For parents and caregivers concerned about their child’s condition and unsure of where to go for their urgent care needs, our virtual service is an efficient way to connect with skilled clinicians for them to assess, provide medical advice, and coordinate appropriate care.
CAVUCS is a national leader in delivering virtual paediatric urgent care and continues to receive overwhelming positive support from the community about the vital solution it is offering families.
Our free service is available seven days a week, 9am to 9pm, for families and caregivers to receive care from the comfort of their home for their children aged between 6 months and up to 18 years.
