Australia’s Victoria to launch virtual hospital pilot

The trial will run until June 2026.

Victorians will soon be able to receive hospital-level care at home, with the Allan Labor Government set to launch the state’s first virtual hospital pilot.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said that The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Austin Health will lead the six-month trial, starting in December.

The program aims to free up hospital beds and improve ambulance turnaround times.

More than 250 patients who would normally be admitted to hospital will receive care remotely.

Doctors will conduct virtual ward rounds, monitoring patients across the state in partnership with regional and rural health services.

The pilot will focus on heart failure and post-cardiac care, allowing patients to recover at home through remote monitoring.

Regional expectant mothers will also benefit from a virtual foetal monitoring service, with scans completed locally and reviewed in real time by specialists at The Royal Women’s Hospital.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Digital Coordination Centre will be expanded to use real-time data to direct ambulances to less busy hospitals, improving patient flow and reducing wait times.

The trial will run until June 2026, after which it will be reviewed to guide future virtual care models.

The initiative follows the government’s continued investment in home-based care, including $437m in this year’s budget to double the capacity of the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and make it permanent.