A new collaboration between NSW Ambulance and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District will help patients receive the right care, in the right place, while easing pressure on emergency departments.
The program will deploy two additional Extended Care Paramedic vehicles for the region, staffed by six Extended Care Paramedics (ECPs) to scale up existing models of care.
These paramedics are skilled in providing assessment and treatment in the community, which can help some patients avoid unnecessary trips to busy hospital emergency departments.
ECPs have additional skills to address a range of low acuity conditions, with a focus on patients with chronic and complex low acuity presentations.
NSW Ambulance is also enhancing support through its Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC), providing increased monitoring of the Illawarra Shoalhaven area.
The VCCC allows experienced clinicians to assess suitable patients remotely and, where appropriate, connect them with alternative care options such as a GP, pharmacist or other health services. This helps ensure patients receive care from the most appropriate provider, while preserving frontline ambulance resources for emergencies.
The co-designed program, developed following consultation with the Health Services Union, will help to enhance community health care, with a focus on those patients who do not require emergency medical care.
This builds on the work the Minns Labor Government is already doing to relieve pressure from hospitals and address the number of stranded patients awaiting aged care and NDIS placements, including:
- expanding the Aged Care Outreach Service in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to help avoid hospital trips for vulnerable patients and enable residents in aged care homes to access timely, effective, and appropriate clinical care in the comfort of their home
- investing in more pathways to care outside the ED through Healthdirect and the expansion of urgent and virtual care.
Planning is underway for further phases of support, subject to evaluation and approvals, which will build additional capacity and community care pathways for our older citizens, allowing them to remain in the community.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Member for Keira, Ryan Park:
"This new program shows how services in the Illawarra and across NSW Health are working together to deliver better care for patients.
"By supporting collaborations like this across our health network, we are ensuring patients can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
"This is another example of the Minns Labor Government improving health care by providing more options for people to get the right care, in the right place.
"Introducing extended care paramedics will help take pressure off Wollongong's emergency department delivering better health outcomes for everyone."
Quotes attributable to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:
"This new collaboration between NSW Ambulance and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is about getting people the right care, in the right place, at the right time, while easing pressure on our busy emergency departments."
"With two additional Extended Care Paramedic vehicles and six specialist paramedics for the Illawarra Shoalhaven, more patients can be assessed and treated in the community, avoiding unnecessary trips to hospital."
Quotes attributable to Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney:
"This is a terrific example of innovative ways our local health teams are working together to co-design programs that will deliver community-based health care and help those patients who do not require emergency medical attention get the care they need without going to a busy ED."
Quotes attributable to Member for South Coast Liza Butler:
"This collaboration between NSW Ambulance and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is about making sure people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time."
"Extended Care Paramedics play a vital role in supporting patients in their homes and communities. By expanding this model in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, we can help patients avoid unnecessary trips to emergency departments and ease pressure on our busy hospitals."
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:
"NSW Ambulance is working hand in hand with the Ministry of Health and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to respond to increased demand and support patients to receive care that best meets their needs.
"These additional resources are targeted to the Illawarra and are designed to complement existing services, while ensuring NSW Ambulance continues to meet demand across the state.
"The additional resources demonstrate NSW Ambulance's flexibility and commitment to working closely with health partners to support patients and communities."
Quotes attributable to Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Acting Chief Executive Marg Martin:
"The local health district welcomes the additional support from NSW Ambulance to help alleviate system pressure caused by the increasing ageing population and the pressures this adds to our health system.
"We are working closely with NSW Ambulance to support patients across the Illawarra Shoalhaven, and this additional capability will enhance the care available to our community."
