Tom Ingleton
The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), based at Northern Hospital, has reached 500,000 patient consultations since launching in 2020.
Set up to ease pressure on overcrowded hospitals, the free online service provides 24-7 video consultations with emergency-trained doctors and nurses for non-life-threatening conditions.
The VVED has kept an estimated 400, 000 people out of physical emergency departments, reducing strain on hospitals like Northern, which serves Melbourne’s outer north.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas visited the hospital to mark the milestone, highlighting how the service is helping cut wait times and keeping patients at home when possible.
Deputy director Suzie Miller said the VVED was proving to be a cost-effective alternative to in-person care, particularly for patients in rural and diverse communities.
Program director Dr Loren Sher noted that at least one in 10 Victorians had used the service, with plans to expand access further.
