Southern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive, Margaret Bennett and SNSWLHD Director of Nursing and Midwifery Community District Services Summa Stephens testing new remote monitoring technology with a representative from Philips Australia. Credit: SNSWLHD.
Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) has launched a new Hospital in the Home (HITH) model of care, giving eligible patients access to hospital-level treatment from the comfort of their own home.
Rolling out from December 2025 across the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn and Queanbeyan regions, the service enables patients who would otherwise need to be admitted to hospital to receive safe, high-quality care in a familiar environment. Communities in the Snowy Monaro and Yass Valley will be included in a later expansion.
Led by a dedicated medical officer, nurse practitioners and a multidisciplinary team, the model provides comparable care to that received in hospital. Benefits for patients include remaining connected to home and family, reduced risks associated with a hospital stay, and improved comfort during recovery.
The service supports a range of clinical conditions that can be safely managed outside hospital, including cellulitis, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and urinary tract infections. The model is designed to support paediatric, chronic and complex, palliative and aged care patients, and includes options for home oxygen and transport support for hospital-related appointments.
To further support patient safety, clinicians can now remotely monitor vital signs such as breathing rate, oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure in real time. Access to regular clinical data means health teams can identify changes in a patient’s health status earlier and intervene sooner when needed.
SNSWLHD Chief Executive, Margaret Bennett, said the new model is an important step in improving access to timely care across the region.
“This model ensures patients in our district receive equitable, timely and high-quality care across Southern NSW,” Ms Bennett said.
“The continuous delivery of vital sign data means our clinicians can intervene earlier and more precisely, reducing avoidable admissions and keeping hospital beds available for more acute cases.”
Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Community and District Services at SNSWLHD, Summa Stephens, said the approach is centred around individual needs.
“This model is all about giving people the right care, in the right place,” Ms Stephens said.
“Patients recover better when they’re in a familiar environment, and this service allows us to deliver hospital-level treatment while keeping them connected to home and family.”
The HITH model aims to improve patient recovery, reduce length of hospital stay and support better outcomes through flexible, safe and appropriate community-based care.
People interested in finding out whether Hospital in the Home care may be suitable for them are encouraged to speak with their general practitioner or treating health professional, who can help determine eligibility and coordinate a referral.