- Life-saving Emergency Telehealth Service now at 75 sites across WA
- More than 1,400 patients per month using telehealth State-wide
- Made possible by the Liberal National Government’s Royalties for Regions program
Broome Health Campus has become the 75th site to have access to the Emergency Telehealth Service (ETS), a Liberal National Government initiative which is significantly improving access to specialist medical support in rural and remote hospitals across Western Australia.
Health Minister John Day said the ETS was an example of technology making country life better and safer.
“Local nurses and doctors in Broome now have the opportunity to quickly link to specialist support, with videoconferencing providing a ‘virtual’ emergency department,” Mr Day said.
“The service is a potentially lifesaving innovation, with a track record of improving medical outcomes in the treatment of seriously injured or unwell patients.
“The ETS adds another layer of strength to an already strong medical team in Broome.”
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said he was pleased to see another Royalties for Regions milestone.
“The service has grown far and wide since its original implementation in the Wheatbelt,” Mr Redman said.
“The State Government’s investment in essential services in one region has had a significant flow-on effect for vast areas of the State, which have been able to access a service originally implemented thousands of kilometres away at little extra cost.”
It began as a pilot program at eight Wheatbelt sites in 2012 under the Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI) to 75 sites as far afield as the Kimberley and South-West towns such as Collie.
Fact File
- The ETS operates 8am to 11pm seven days a week. Outside these hours, major regional hospitals, metropolitan EDs and the Royal Flying Doctor Service provide medical support to smaller regional hospital EDs
- More than 1,400 patients per month are being treated using the ETS
- The $500 million SIHI is improving access to medical and emergency care
- For more information, visit http://www.health.wa.gov.au/southerninland
