- Completion of rollout of award-winning videoconference service in State's south
- Emergency medicine support for regional hospitals in WA's south
Most of southern inland Western Australia now has access to metropolitan emergency medicine specialists, thanks to the completion of the final stage of the State Government's Emergency Telehealth Service (ETS) initiative in the State's south.
Health Minister Kim Hames said the milestone was a significant achievement for country WA, providing a high level of emergency medicine expertise in small regional hospitals to support local clinicians.
"The Emergency Telehealth Service was launched in 2012 as a pilot program in eight Wheatbelt towns under the State Government's Royalties for Regions Southern Inland Health Initiative, and in less than three years it has revolutionised emergency care in small towns," he said.
"On weekends and late evenings, if there is a road trauma or a child becomes seriously ill, the ETS specialist is there on the screen in the hospital's emergency department, supporting the local GP and nurses at every step, working as a team for the patient."
Dr Hames said the telehealth technology had been welcomed by local GPs and nursing staff across the southern inland region and was a factor in helping to retain local doctors.
"Having been a GP myself, I know that acute and emergency presentations are particularly challenging and for a local GP to know they have the support of highly trained emergency specialists is a huge benefit," he said.
Nannup and Bridgetown hospital emergency departments are the latest to have joined the ETS network, bringing the total number of sites to 63 regional hospital emergency departments and completing the southern inland roll-out of the project.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman acknowledged the role of Royalties for Regions investment in enabling the installation of high definition videoconferencing equipment and facilities.
"Royalties for Regions has given residents and clinicians in southern inland WA more peace of mind with ETS providing access to specialist health services as well as training and education in virtual classrooms," Mr Redman said.
"Ultimately, we'd like as many country hospital emergency departments as possible to have similar access to this specialist emergency medicine service through the telehealth network."
Dr Hames said the ETS, which was awarded a prestigious WA Premier's Award for Excellence last year, was now looking to expand in the north of the State, starting with the installation of telehealth equipment in Pilbara and Kimberley hospitals offering support to 74 EDs across WA.
Fact File
- More than 16,000 patient consultations have been conducted via ETS; 72% of patients have received treatment on-site, reducing the need for travel to a larger centre
- For more information, visit http://www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au/telehealth
Health Minister's office - 6552 5300
Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6700
