How a Telehealth GP Appointment Works in Australia

Never done a telehealth consultation before? It's simpler than it sounds. Book, verify, talk to the doctor, done. 13CURE has run after-hours GP care for over 10 years with a network of more than 100+ AHPRA-registered doctors, and here's exactly how a telehealth booking plays out, from the moment you submit a request to what happens after the call ends.

Booking and Verification

You start by submitting a request online or by phone: the patient's name, address, Medicare details, and a short description of symptoms. Our team calls to confirm those details and runs a quick clinical triage, the same check used before any 13CURE consultation. That's how we work out whether telehealth suits your situation or whether an in-person option would serve you better. Worth having everything on hand before you call. Our guide to preparing for a telehealth call covers what to have ready.

Booking is available for adults booking for themselves, parents booking for a child, or a carer booking on behalf of someone else. Whoever calls must be able to answer questions about the patient's symptoms and Medicare details accurately, since our team uses that to triage the request and confirm eligibility.

What Happens During the Call

The doctor introduces themselves, confirms who they're speaking with, and works through your symptoms much like they would in a clinic: when things started, how they've changed, anything relevant in your medical history. From there they'll offer advice suited to your situation. If you're eligible, the consultation may be bulk billed through Medicare. Our team flags your eligibility during booking, so cost rarely comes as a surprise once the doctor joins the call.

Depending on what's needed, the call might end with simple advice and monitoring instructions, an electronically sent prescription, a medical certificate, a referral to a specialist, or a recommendation to arrange an in-person or home doctor visit. The doctor will explain their reasoning as they go, so you understand why they chose a particular next step.

After-Consult Follow-Up Notes

Once the call wraps up, the doctor writes notes: your symptoms, their assessment, and any advice or next steps. With your consent, a summary can go to your regular GP, supporting continuity of care with your usual doctor rather than leaving the telehealth visit as a one-off, disconnected event.

How Long Does a Telehealth Appointment Take?

Most after-hours consultations run 10 to 20 minutes. The exact length depends on how complex the issue is and how much history the doctor needs to work through. A quick review sits on the shorter end. Multiple symptoms or a longer history understandably takes a bit more time. The booking and triage process before the call typically adds a further few minutes on top of the consultation itself.

Can You Reschedule or Cancel a Telehealth Appointment?

Yes. 13CURE's telehealth bookings run through the same triage system as our home doctor requests, so our team can adjust timing or cancel a request if your situation changes before the doctor calls. Symptoms getting worse while you wait? Call us back straight away so we can reassess.

What If You're Disconnected Mid-Call?

Connections drop sometimes, especially over mobile data or in areas with patchy reception. If a video or phone consultation cuts out, the doctor will try to reconnect, or our team will call to reschedule the rest of the consultation. Your appointment doesn't count as finished until the doctor has actually completed their assessment. A dropped call shouldn't mean starting over.

What Happens If the Doctor Is Running Behind?

Because 13CURE handles urgent after-hours requests, call times can shift depending on how many patients we're triaging at once. If a genuinely urgent case comes through, we may prioritise it ahead of a routine query. Our team will keep you updated on timing if there's a delay, and you can always call back if your symptoms change while you're waiting.

Booking Telehealth for Someone Else

Yes, anyone can book on a patient's behalf. Plenty of telehealth bookings are made by someone other than the patient: a parent calling for a child, an adult child calling on behalf of an elderly parent, or a carer arranging a consultation for someone in their care. The process is the same either way. Whoever books must be able to provide accurate symptom details and Medicare information and, where possible, be present or contactable during the call in case the doctor needs to speak with them directly.