By Dr Megan Robb
The emergency departments (EDs) at Williamstown, Footscray and Sunshine hospitals are among the busiest in Victoria. In the past year, 159,000 patients have presented at our EDs – on average 435 patients a day.
Our triage nurses assess patients on arrival and determine the urgency in which they’ll be treated. Patients who need urgent medical attention for severe injuries or illness are seen first. Depending on demand, patients with mild to moderate conditions may need to wait to be seen.
But there’s another option: the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, a free video-based healthcare service for adults and children with non life-threatening conditions – think COVID, asthma or flu; nausea and vomiting; minor cuts, rashes, burns or fractures.
Available 24/7, the Virtual ED connects you with specialist emergency nurses and doctors via video consultation using your smartphone, computer or tablet. Go to vved.org.au, complete the short registration form and you’ll then be placed in a virtual waiting room before your consultation with a clinician.
During your consultation, clinicians will provide medical advice and can organise medication scripts, plus x-rays and other diagnostic tests close to your home. In some cases, they may suggest patients seek further assistance from a GP or a physical ED.
Interpreters are available and you can request one during the registration process, which is also available in languages other than English.
To assist with busy periods, Western Heath has now set up some quiet booths – similar to phone boxes – at our EDs at Williamstown, Footscray and Sunshine hospitals. Triage nurses will identify appropriate patients to enter the booths to use the Virtual ED. This will mean patients will get seen earlier and home sooner, while freeing up staff in the physical ED to attend to critically-ill patients.
The Virtual ED is free of charge and available to all people living in Victoria.
Always remember, if you’re having severe trouble breathing, blueness around the mouth, chest pains, or pain in your arms or jaw, call triple zero (000) immediately for urgent help.
Dr Megan Robb is an Emergency Physician and the Clinical Services Director, Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Services at Western Health.
How to access the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department
- Make sure that you have access to a device with a camera (mobile phone, PC, laptop or tablet).
- Go to www.vved.org.au and click on the ‘Are you Sick/Unwell?’ button to go to the ‘Patients’ page
- Click the ’Register now’ link to get started (select your preferred language here).
- Complete the registration form.
- A link to the VVED waiting room will be sent to you via SMS and email:
- Click on link to open HealthDirect.
- Click ‘Start Video Call’ to enter the waiting room.
- Enter patient details and click ‘Continue’.
- Wait for one of the clinicians to pick up your call.
