Children and families across NSW can now benefit from an innovative virtual healthcare program, helping to avoid unnecessary trips to the Emergency Department.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns, announced the statewide roll out of the virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service on Sunday, with the program already helping almost 1,000 families since the formal expansion last month.
Families like four-year-old Henry’s, who live in regional NSW, found invaluable support through the service after he became ill with a serious stomach bug.
Henry’s mum, Skye, was referred to the service through healthdirect, allowing them to avoid the 45-minute drive to their nearest hospital. 
Henry was initially examined via videoconferencing by a virtualKIDS clinical nurse consultant, who determined that he should be assessed by a virtualKIDS expert paediatrician.
“A paediatrician guided me through how to manage his condition with existing medications and signs to keep an eye out for in case he deteriorated,” Skye said.
“The team that supported us was incredibly helpful and reassuring and we were able to provide Henry with the necessary care, all from the comfort of our home.”
The virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service is delivered by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) and Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) in partnership with healthdirect and is expected to support at least 500 children and their families each month.
The service was originally piloted in December 2022 across three local health districts (LHDs) following the success of SCHN’s COVID-19 virtual care program.
“The Urgent Care Service has supported almost 4,000 patients, 85 per cent of whom are under five years of age, with eight per cent identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,” Dr Ging said.
“It has been well received and significantly enhanced access to timely urgent care for children and their families.”
The statewide rollout will help ensure that children and families can access the right care, at the right time and in the right place, no matter where they are in NSW.
“This program is free and can help you and your child avoid a stressful trip to an emergency department,” Premier Minns said.
“It allows families to be seen faster while reducing pressure on already stretched emergency departments and our frontline healthcare workers.” 
Henry is among the two thirds of children referred to the service who have received the care they needed without the need to step foot into an Emergency Department.
“For families like ours where the closest hospital is 45 minutes away, having access to a service like this really makes a difference,” Skye said.
“Thankfully, we were able to receive the necessary guidance and treatment from the comfort of home. We are truly grateful for the accessibility and support the service offers.”
The expansion of the service will also see specialist paediatricians provide expert advice to clinicians in rural and regional hospitals, and to paramedics in non-emergency situations.
virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service is for children up to 16 with non-life-threatening health concerns, accessible via referral from healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Members of the public cannot contact virtualKIDS directly.
Parents and carers should call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance or go to a hospital emergency department immediately if they have a life-threatening emergency.