The NSW Government has officially launched an Urgent Care Service for older people at Fairfield Hospital, 30km west of Sydney's CBD.
The service commenced in late 2023, with the NSW Government hoping to have 25 Urgent Care Services up and running by June 2025. It operates 8am-4.30pm seven days a week, with phone consultations between 4.30pm-8pm.
The service is delivered by the Community Older Persons Intervention and Liaison Outreach Team (COPILOT), and is designed to ease the pressure on hospital emergency departments.
Care is provided in the patient’s own home by a multidisciplinary team of geriatricians, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians and occupational therapists.
“As our population grows, our community will get older. COPILOT will become even more essential, and an important, service to ensuring their success in an ever-changing society," said the Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott (pictured right).
“Our community is growing, and by 2031 there will be more than 155,000 Fairfield residents over the age of 70. It’s important we invest in their success early.”
Last week, we reported that the proportion of emergency department patients being seen on time is the lowest in a decade, due in large part to the pressures created by an ageing population.
