[English] Vic 'Nurse-on-Call'

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Fwd: Every Victorian Family Has A Nurse-on-Call

Steve Bracks - Premier of Victoria
Minister for Multicultural Affairs

<http://www.vic.alp.org.au/media/0606/20011274.html>

Media Statement

Victorian families wanting immediate health advice now have it at their 
fingertips, with the launch today of Victoria's Nurse-On-Call 24-hour 
hotline.

Launching the service at its new Richmond call centre, Premier Steve 
Bracks said callers would be able to speak to an experienced nurse, 
discuss their illness or condition, receive advice and be directed to the 
care or treatment they need.

"Whether you're a mum whose kids have come down with the flu in the 
middle of the night, or an elderly Victorian who wants advice about how 
to manage their long-term back pain, you'll be able to get straight 
through to a registered nurse, without having to endure an annoying 
automated menu system," Mr Bracks said.

"It's just another way that the State Government is making Victoria the 
best place to live, work and raise a family." 

Mr Bracks said the new service would also have the added benefit of 
freeing up doctors and nurses in hospitals to concentrate on treating 
patients who are already there, rather than addressing health concerns 
over the phone.

People can ring the line – 1300 60 60 24 – direct, or can be transferred 
through if they ring a hospital and their query can best be handled by 
Nurse-On-Call.

In the case of medical emergencies, people should always call 000.

"Nurse-On-Call is a valuable addition to the existing system, which 
includes hospitals, family doctors and community health agencies," Mr 
Bracks said.

"It will give people access to 24-hour advice and information, which will 
help them determine if they need to attend hospital or a doctor straight 
away, whether their illness or condition could be treated by a GP the 
next day, or if they can manage it themselves.

"We expect the service will build up to the stage where it will take up 
to 500,000 calls a year – or one a minute – and ease the pressure on 
hospital emergency departments."

Nurse-On-Call would not provide diagnosis of illnesses, injuries and 
ailments, but the registered nurses would assess the urgency and direct 
the caller to the care required, Mr Bracks said.

Every household in Victoria will receive a fridge magnet in the mail 
detailing the 1300 60 60 24 number. An extensive TV, radio and newspaper 
campaign, starting tonight, will ensure the community knows how to use 
the new service.

Nurse-On-Call is being run by experienced healthcare operator McKesson 
Asia-Pacific.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the nurses would have access to 
evidence-based clinical decision support software, providing them with 
the latest medical advice to guide clinical judgment, plus information 
from the Better Health Channel.

Ms Pike said the nurses would also be able to provide general advice and 
information on health issues and advice on steps the callers can take to 
manage their own health and wellbeing.

"The Nurse-On-Call line will quickly become a valuable health service for 
Victorian families around the State," Ms Pike said .. <snip>
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Best Regards,
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia