Health Services Australia: Health hotline about to operate nationwide

Health Services Australia: Health hotline about to operate nationwide

A national health service call centre will provide people with medical guidance
By: Oliver Koester
February 13, 2006
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FEDERAL Health Minister Tony Abbott wants to introduce a nationwide health hotline to provide people with medical guidance in an effort to cut down on waiting time in surgerys and hospitals.

He said that a 24-hour call centre is not a panacea as it will not remove the need for more docters and hospitals, but it will contribute to ease some problems in the national health system. People who are uncertain what kind of treatment they need, are encouraged to call this health hotline before attending a doctor or the hospital emergency service. Triage nurses will direct sick people to a pharmacy, doctor or hospital, depending on the seriousness of their complaints.

According to Mr Abbott there are already similiar hotlines operating successfully in different parts of Australia, such as Western Australia, Tasmania and Hunter Valley in New South Wales. "They are working well and what the government is looking at is extending these type of systems nationally in conjunction with the states." Therefore the national hotline proposal will be discussed at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting next month.

"It certainly is not going to remove the need for more doctors, better hospitals and so on. But it can provide people with guidance and reassurance," Mr Abbott told the Nine Network. He denied the hotline was a band aid solution to relieve pressures on the hospital system. "I would certainly not claim that this is going to solve all our problems but I think it can make some of our problems a little bit better," he said.

"Often people will be uncertain as to whether their child's or their relative's sickness needs medical attention, needs something from the pharmacy, needs a trip to the emergency department, and if they can phone a hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week they can be
assisted by this."

Resource:  The Australian - January 30, 2006