It’s been a “significantly” busier period for Northern Health’s Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, according to its director of workforce operations.
Throughout summer the VVED has averaged over 600 patient registrations per day, reaching a peak on Christmas Eve with 898 registrations, setting at new department record.
Emergency physician Dr Jason Nebbs said the holiday period was a strange time for all emergency departments, not just the VVED.
“Due to school holidays and people away from home on summer break, so we are yet to see what a “normal day” in the VVED looks like in 2024,” he said.
“Things will probably become clear in February and March, but we are significantly busier than the same time in 2023.”
Dr Nebbs said he would still advocate for any life or limb threatening emergencies to be dealt with by Ambulance Victoria on the 000 emergency services line. However, at times the call taker may direct the patient back through the VVED, further increasing its usage.
“Worrying symptoms such as significant chest pain, severe abdominal pain, loss of consciousness, profuse bleeding or shortness of breath, still warrant a call to 000,” he said.
“Once the AV call taker has done their assessment, if they conclude an ambulance response is not required, they will likely refer patients to VVED through an integrated referral pathway.
“This is designed to help us free-up our paramedic colleagues for urgent cases that definitely need a lights and sirens response in the community.”
Despite higtened demand over the period, Dr Nebbs said it staff have coped well, as the hospital seeks to improve its reach and outcomes.
“Our goal is to provide excellent patient care and outcomes with an exceptional patient experience to the people of Victoria. This translates for us into providing the right care, to the right patient, at the right time, in the right place,” he said.
“To enable us to build on the delivery of vital patient care, we continue to work with existing in-patient services at Northern Health to increase their reach throughout the state.”
