Women’s & Children’s Hospital virtual care service expands, to free up beds and reduce strain on Emergency Department

A virtual care service at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital will provide more patients access to treatment from home, with the plan to reduce emergency department admissions.

More children and their families will be given access to treatment from home in the hope of minimising trips to the emergency department.

A virtual care service at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital allows children with mild to moderate illness to be assessed and cared for at home via an online platform run by a dedicated team of doctors, nurses and GP specialists.

WCH@Home is targeted at children with respiratory symptoms and can be accessed through a hospital referral or virtual assessment.

Health Minister Chris Picton. Picture: Matt Loxton

Health Minister Chris Picton said more than 2000 children had presented at the hospital with respiratory symptoms in the past three months.

“It really highlights the importance of making sure that we take every possible measure to help support families and children who need that care but also the prevention work that we need to do to stop people ending up in that situation,” Mr Picton said.

“These online services will reduce strain on emergency departments and help free up hospital beds for the sickest children.”

The unit will be able to admit up to 10 children as inpatients.