Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:58): My question is for the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, can you please update the council on the new virtual service being offered to children as an alternative to attending the emergency department at the Women's and Children's Hospital?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for her question. Having a sick child and not knowing what is wrong with them can be extremely distressing for a parent. A visit to the emergency department can also be daunting for both the child and their parents. The Women's and Children's Health Network is trialling a new video telehealth service called the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service, which aims to make emergency care more accessible.

The virtual ED allows parents and carers of children who are well enough to avoid hospital to link up to emergency department clinicians online. Nearly 500 families have now benefited from this important service in its first three months and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Families are receiving more timely access to care. They are seen straightaway in a majority of cases and avoid the inconvenience and loss of time travelling to hospital. Very few children who have used the service have needed to go on to present at the Women's and Children's emergency department. That frees up the ED for those who need face-to-face care.

The virtual ED is also lessening the potential spread of infection by providing families with medical assessment advice and referrals from the comfort and safety of their own home. Assessments can be conducted via video telehealth on a smartphone, a computer or a tablet. It is suitable for paediatric patients with conditions such as minor head injuries, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, mental health issues, fever, ear and throat pain, allergies, and minor injuries, including sporting injuries, sprains and strains.

South Australian GPs can now access the virtual service for real-time support from paediatric emergency doctors and nurses on behalf of their patients. SA Ambulance Service can also now refer suitable patients to the service. SAAS crews currently transport an average of 20 to 30 patients a day to the Women's and Children's emergency department, some of whom have low acuity conditions that do not require acute emergency services.

The attending SAAS clinician will remain with the patient during the start of the virtual assessment and will be guided by the ED doctor. Typically, the crew will then be advised if they can clear the scene. Paramedics have been trialling this over the past month, and I am advised they have found it to be safe and effective. It has reduced transportation, as many patients have been able to be managed on site. Importantly, this is putting ambulances back on the road at a time we are experiencing increased pressure.

The service operates every day from 1.30pm to 8.30pm. Initially, self referral is limited to metropolitan and some Adelaide Hills patients. Regional GPs can access the service on behalf of their patients, and preparations are currently being made to roll the service out to regional patients so they can access the service directly.

Recently, we heard from a Darwin mother, Teresa, whose teenage son, Jakob, lives at a boarding school in Adelaide. This is what she had to say about the new virtual assessment service:

When I was informed that Jakob had injured his finger, and then again to say he was on his way to the hospital because the injury was on the same finger that he had surgery on late last year, and as a mother who is so far away, I worry. I worry because I couldn't be there with him for support and to be involved in his health care.

When Jakob sent me a text to say that 'someone will call you', I assumed that I would just get a phone call. To my surprise, the message to my phone came with a link, clicking on the link took me to a video call and I quickly realised I was in a virtual consultation with the treating Doctor and Jakob. I was so thankful and impressed to have had the opportunity to access this service. The consultation was thorough and professional, and I was given a full explanation and provided with visuals of Jakob's X-ray, the findings and treatment.

The Virtual Urgent Care Service provided me with the opportunity to be a part of my son's health care when he is over 3,000 kilometres away—something that I haven't experienced before.

What great feedback. I congratulate the staff involved at the Women's and Children's Local Health Network for this innovative and patient-centred service, which is helping parents receive more timely care for their children and giving parents who live apart from their children the opportunity to be involved in their care as it happens.