- After-hours doctors
- Emergencies are for 000: Just in case of any symptom that.
- Sync to Connect
- You may want to write, aside from your Medicare card, patient details, and, by and large,
- Bulk Billing is Available: Most of the after-hours providers offer bulk billing.
What Services Do After-Hours Doctors Provide?
These services, including telehealth and doctor home visits, are integral to Australia's primary healthcare system. They ensure everyone can get medical advice anytime, especially evenings, weekends, and public holidays. This guide will walk you through which conditions are suitable for an after-hours doctor, how these services work with your regular GP, and, most importantly, when you need to go to the emergency department instead.
For a broader overview of how we support community health, visit our comprehensive page on after-hours medical services.
How After-Hours GPs Continue Non-Emergency Care
What to do if you need a minor non-emergency treatment is unclear, but Australia's healthcare system offers different support methods. It is like having the right tool for the job. Using the exemplary service not only ensures that you receive the best care but also helps maintain our crowded hospital emergency departments, which are available for those cases of genuine emergency. After-hours services are for situations that are neither less urgent nor can be put off until the next doctor's visit.
Common Scenarios Suited to After-Hours GPs
Generally, what can an after-hours GP help with? These doctors are prepared to visit and assess health challenges you believe to be urgent but not life-threatening. Their main goal is to give patients a clear understanding and peace of mind on the spot. They only provide emergency care. They cannot manage long-term conditions or prescribe more than one medication for short-term use. While physical exams are thorough, many minor conditions can be assessed via a telehealth call for faster resolution.
These general examples can illustrate situations that occur outside of regular business hours.
- Anxiety caused by health concerns or symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, and headache.
- Infections of the stomach and digestive system can cause various symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
- Minor accident injuries, including the possibility of sprains, strains, and minor cuts that may require medical attention.
- The doctor also treats skin rashes and mild skin allergies.
- Assessment of urinary tract, ear, or minor eye infections is among the common diseases that spread widely.
- Breathing trouble due to asthma occurs with slight symptoms.
- Regular childhood diseases can be a significant reason for fear in parents and carers during the holiday season.
Treatment often involves obtaining necessary medications after hours, which our doctors can assist with via thorough assessment and script if deemed necessary.
By the end of the consultation, the healthcare practitioner may issue an electronic prescription, a medical certificate, or a referral for additional tests if necessary.
What To Do Before You Book
If you put in a little effort before the actual appointment, it can make the whole thing so much easier. You may not have to make a phone call if you can book online from home. If you are considering making a reservation via telephone or the Internet, it would be good to have these particulars ready so that the whole procedure is done quickly and without any difficulties.
Do some prep work, and the booking process will be a breeze. Before you call or book online, have these details ready:
- Patient Details: Full name, date of birth, and address for the visit.
- Medicare Card: Medicare number for bulk-billing services. Concession or DVA card details are also required.
- Symptom Description: Be prepared to explain the symptoms, when they started and what you've done so far.
- Regular GP: Name of your usual GP or clinic. This is important for continuity of care.
When It's Not Appropriate
This is the critical bit: knowing when to call for an ambulance. Some symptoms are red flags for a serious medical emergency, and an after-hours doctor is not the right choice. Your safety is number one.
If you think someone's life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.
Call 000 for any of the following red flags
- Chest pain or tightness
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden collapse or loss of consciousness
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg
- Fits or seizures
- Severe burns or injuries from a major accident
A 000 operator will explain what to do until help arrives. Do not drive to the hospital if these symptoms are present.
Also read and follow the guidelines of Healthdirect helpline (1800 022 222)
How Reports Flow Back to Your Regular GP
You may be concerned that if you see a different GP, your regular GP won't know what's happening. That is understandable, but after-hours services are designed to work in conjunction with your family doctor, rather than being a separate service. The point is to ensure that your care is continuous and that your primary doctor always has a complete picture of your health.
If you agree, the after-hours doctor will send a detailed consultation report to your regular GP. This paper comprises the doctor's discoveries, advice, prescriptions, or referrals. This is how your GP becomes aware of everything and can plan any necessary follow-up care.
The assistance is also supported through My Health Record, a digital repository for Australia's national health system. If you have a My Health Record, the after-hours GP who is working may well be able to access that critical health information, what allergies you might have, and what medication you are on in a more secure way, she said. The after-hours visit will be recorded, thus establishing a more complete and easily accessible health history for all your doctors.
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9 min readFrequently Asked Questions
Commonwealth after-hours are before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on weekdays, after 12 p.m. on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays and public holidays.
If the doctor thinks you need medication, they can issue an eScript to your phone. After-hours services don't prescribe controlled drugs or issue long-term repeats.
Telehealth links you to a physician through a video or voice discussion. The GP can examine, assess, and evaluate your condition and may advise, prescribe medications, or recommend referrals. This is a good choice for individuals with difficulty moving or living remotely.
After-hours services are available if you don't have a regular GP. Some providers may even coordinate care and help you locate a local GP for the follow-up visits and long-term healthcare relationship.
One could get care at home or through telemedicine from an after-hours doctor. Medicare UCC is a brick-and-mortar clinic where patients can drop in for urgent care without a prior appointment. Both are designed for similar non-life-threatening issues and are usually bulk-billed.
Need a doctor after hours
Our team is available 24/7 for bulk billed home visits across Australia.
Written By
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin, General Practitioner
MBBS, AMC
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin completed his studies from University of Health Sciences, Lahore Pakistan in 2008. He came to Australia in 2012 and has woked as a resident and GP in various hospitals and medical centres across Australia. He has a particular interest in men's health, travels medicine, chronic disease management, and general family medicine.
