A hospital in Mullumbimby, New South Wales, is the location for a trial of a late-night telehealth service that enables patients to be assessed by doctors via video. The idea is to deploy the technology during the nightshift when the hospital is less busy. Patients will be assessed during the trial by doctors in Tweed Heads Hospital, also in New South Wales.

But the proposal to replace overnight emergency doctors with the telehealth system has been controversial. Critics say telehealth should be an adjunct not a replacement for doctors. They are point out that if a patient is seriously ill or injured then they require a doctor on site. The trial is likely to go ahead in August.