- Cook Government expanding the WA Virtual Emergency Department (WAVED)
- Initiative supports faster, more accessible emergency care for Western Australians
- Adult callers to Healthdirect who would otherwise be advised to attend an emergency department may instead be offered a virtual consultation via WAVED
- Demonstrates Cook Government's commitment to ensuring all Western Australians have access to the services they need, no matter where they live
More Western Australians can now access expert emergency care from the comfort of their own home thanks to an expansion of the WA Virtual Emergency Department (WAVED).
In a new partnership with Healthdirect Australia, eligible adults calling the Telehealth service can now be referred to WAVED for expert clinical assessment and support, without needing to attend an emergency department.
If a patient's emergency is deemed suitable to be assessed and treated at home, Healthdirect will connect that patient to a senior emergency doctor via Telehealth.
Since WAVED began in September 2023, 72 per cent of referrals have been safely assessed in their own home - significantly reducing presentations in hospital emergency departments.
After an overwhelmingly successful start, with referrals from healthcare providers like St John WA and Silverchain, this Healthdirect partnership opens the service up to far more Western Australians as we approach the cooler months.
The newly expanded service will also support regional communities, where access to emergency care can require greater travel times.
Healthdirect (1800 022 222) offers phone or video consultation with a remotely based GP any time of the day or night, if a patient's regular GP is unavailable and they need urgent care.
Referrals to WAVED can be made between 8am and 10pm.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My government will never stop working towards making Western Australia the healthiest state in the nation, and ensuring that people have access to the services they need - whether they're living in our cities, our towns or our communities.
"By connecting people virtually to an emergency doctor and helping them access the most appropriate care close to home, WAVED is delivering real results for patients and helping take pressure off our emergency departments.
"This expansion forms part of the State Government's winter preparedness plan, ensuring more people can get timely, safe care in the community while keeping emergency departments available for those who need them most."
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"One of my key priorities as Health Minister is to improve access to quality healthcare to all Western Australians, no matter where you live.
"The results of the WAVED program to date have been fantastic. Of the 5,000 people referred to the service, more than 3,500 patients were cared for outside of a hospital ED.
"Patients who need to visit an ED will still be urged to visit one, but these results show that most cases can be treated safely at home, be it on a station in the Pilbara, or an apartment in Perth.
"As we approach winter, I urge Western Australians to utilise the many services and initiatives we now have at our disposal to keep us healthy, happy and out of hospital.
"This expansion of WAVED is another example of how we're using innovation to deliver better, more accessible care."
