Health care just a call away

Member for The Entrance David Mehan has welcomed the completion of the rollout of the NSW Government’s virtual urgent care service across NSW.

This means that Central Coast residents have another pathway to accessing safe and appropriate medical care complementing such well utilised services as Long Jetty Urgent Care Service located in the Long Jetty Healthcare Centre.

Almost 16,000 patients accessed virtual care over the past financial year as the service incrementally expanded across metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW.

To access NSW Health’s virtual urgent care service, patients should call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

A registered nurse will assess your condition over the phone and, if virtual care is appropriate, arrange a video-call appointment with a doctor, nurse or allied health professional.

Patients will receive expert advice on treatment options, prescriptions if needed, and referrals to follow-up care.

The service is available seven days a week between the hours of 8am and 10pm.

“Virtual care means that help is only a phone call away,” Mehan said.

“The service ensures people have another option to access safe, quality medical care from the comfort of their own home, sparing them from waiting in emergency departments at Wyong and Gosford hospitals. 

“In turn, this reduces the pressure on our local emergency departments to deal with more urgent, life-threatening presentations.”