The community is being urged to contact Healthdirect for advice if they are experiencing non-life-threatening medical issues as influenza, COVID and RSV cases continue to rise placing significant pressure on NSW public hospital emergency departments (EDs) and NSW Ambulance.
Minister for Health, Ryan Park, said people who are unsure of where to get the help they need can call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse about their condition or injury.
When phoning Healthdirect, patients are triaged by a nurse who can then refer them to a GP, virtual or urgent care; a pharmacist or allied health professional; or provide guidance on how to care for their condition from home.
Healthdirect is available 24/7 and consultations are free for Medicare card holders.
Almost 180,000 people are expected to be able to avoid a trip to busy EDs each year with the $171.4 million expansion of the services accessed via Healthdirect through the Single Front Door initiative announced in the 2024-25 NSW State Budget.
Health Minister Ryan Park has also reiterated that the best way to protect ourselves from serious illness and reduce the pressure on frontline healthcare workers this winter is to ensure you are up do date with your vaccinations.
People who are at higher risk of severe illness from influenza who are eligible for free vaccination include:
- people aged 65 years and over
- children aged six months to under five years
- Aboriginal people from six months of age
- pregnant women
- people with serious health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, severe asthma, kidney, heart, and lung disease.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"Our EDs and NSW Ambulance are facing significant challenges right now due to the very high levels of presentations and calls. I want to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of our dedicated frontline healthcare staff in caring for the community at this extremely busy time for the public health system.
"We can all play our part in supporting them by contacting Healthdirect if you need help but are not experiencing a life-threatening medical issue. We want the Healthdirect number to be as second nature as Triple 0 in NSW.
"The NSW Health Single Front Door, delivered by Healthdirect, is a critical initiative providing alternatives to emergency care. It is part of a broader range of measures the NSW Government is undertaking to connect people with the right care quickly and ease pressure on EDs.
"Our Urgent Care Services, which can be accessed through Healthdirect, provide an excellent alternative for people with health issues that are urgent, but not life threatening, to avoid attending a busy ED.
"I strongly encourage everyone, but particularly those at higher risk of severe disease, to get their influenza vaccination now. It is not too late to get vaccinated and by getting vaccinated you also help protect those around you."
