HSE Virtual Care Service Helps Over 4,000 Cork and Kerry Patients Avoid Emergency Department

A new HSE South West virtual care service has enabled more than 4,000 patients across Cork and Kerry to receive urgent medical care without attending an Emergency Department since launching in November 2024.

The Urgent Virtual Care service has now seen 5,743 patients, with 73% (4,192 patients) successfully treated without needing an ED visit. The initiative allows GPs and paramedics to consult directly with senior Emergency Medicine and Geriatric Medicine specialists through phone or video calls.

Operating from a centralised hub at Cork University Hospital, the service accepts referrals from GPs and paramedics across Cork and Kerry. A team of senior clinicians and support staff provide virtual consultations and assessments, helping patients access the right care pathway.

Professor Conor Deasy, Clinical Director of Emergency and Acute Care at CUH, said:

"The Urgent Virtual Care service has been in a much-welcomed addition to our Emergency and Acute Care offering in the last year or so. It helps patients get the right care, from the right clinicians, at the right time, allowing GPs and paramedics to access pathways in hospitals and the community directly for their patients. Often, patients can bypass the Emergency Department entirely and access their care directly. We are constantly working to get patients more directly to the care they need, and the Urgent Virtual Care service is a big part of that."

The service offers several options following a referral, including direct telephone or video consultations with patients or their GP, access to services delivering care in the patient's home or nursing home, and when necessary, a structured visit to the Emergency Department. The majority of patients are assessed remotely from their own homes.

Emma Slye, a previous user of the service, praised her experience:

"They took care of me immediately, there was no waiting around, and I felt like I was being really cared for. I would recommend Urgent Virtual Care to other people."

Dr Andrew Crosbie of Elmwood Medical Practice said the service allows for better communication between GPs and hospitals, ultimately leading to better care.

Priscilla Lynch, HSE manager for Cork South and West, said:

"We are delighted that this service is helping so many patients to get the care they need, when they need it. We are committed to investing in this service and we encourage both patients and GP to consider whether it's a viable option for their needs."

Referrals to the Urgent Virtual Care service can only be made by GPs and paramedics through Healthlink, email, or phone. A video explaining the service is available.