Patient Information Our experienced VEMSA clinicians are available 24 hours a day throughout the year, including public holidays.

Preparing for your consultation

VEMSA is here for when you have an urgent need for medical care, including for distressing but non-life threatening illnesses and injuries or for general medical advice and reassurance. A list of conditions that can be safely managed virtually with VEMSA is available here.

Having the following ready for your first consultation with a VEMSA clinician will give us a more comprehensive picture of your health:

• A list of your current medications
• Any past medical history relevant to your presenting concern
• The results of any recent medical tests or imaging related to your presenting concern

If you have access to a blood pressure machine, thermometer, oximeter, and/or glucometer, please have these ready for your consultation. 

You may also find it helpful to:

• Have a pen and paper handy to write down the advice given by your VEMSA clinician
• Have a trusted family member or friend sit in for the consultation to help you remember what was discussed
• Ensure your device (laptop or phone) camera and microphone are working before you start the consultation
• Sit in a brightly lit area, but avoid having your back to the window

VEMSA virtual ED fees and eligibility

At VEMSA we believe that prompt, high-quality emergency care should be accessible to everyone. 

Eligibility and accessibility

Emergency medical care through VEMSA is available to anyone:

• Physically located within Australia
• With a valid Medicare card

Once a consultation has been started, your information is securely encrypted and stored in a centralised VEMSA database, meaning our authorised clinicians can access your medical history even if you use our service again from a different state or territory. If you consent, we can also upload your consultation notes to your My Health record (if you have one), to support continuity of care wherever you go.

Find out more about privacy and data security at VEMSA →

Fees

VEMSA operates on a private billing model, with a substantial Medicare rebates available for eligible consultations. No referral is required to access urgent and emergency medical care with VEMSA.

Feedback and complaints

Our governance and clinical framework at VEMSA are designed to uphold the highest standard in quality clinical care, patient safety, and privacy. Your feedback regarding our service is welcome, and can be submitted via our contact form here. All feedback is taken seriously and used to improve our service where appropriate.

If you feel your medical concern was not properly managed or there has been a breach of privacy, you may make a formal complaint to the Health Complaints Commissioner or to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner respectively.