Same Day GP appointments online

When you need to see a doctor fast, for example, for repeat scripts, medical certificates, or another routine consult, a telehealth appointment with a GP can be a great option. Luckily, you’re spoilt for choice in Australia. Not only may your own GP clinic offer online appointments, but you can also take your pick from a range of telehealth providers offering consultations, sometimes almost instant appointments. After vetting providers for MediCompare, here’s my input on how to find the right online doc for you.

When picking a telehealth provider, you want to check whether they offer appointments with nurse practitioners (NPs), AHPRA-registered doctors, or general practitioners (GPs). There are differences in the type and length of training, and when you want to see a GP online, you should watch out for whether the provider guarantees those. My top choices are Prime Medic, Our Sage, and HelloGP. Prime Medic offers bulk billing with some of their GPs, too, if you qualify, meaning very affordable, quick, and high-quality care.

There are also specialised telehealth providers, for example, for mental health care or paediatric care. If you do need access to either of these, general telehealth providers may still be the faster option, but you could check out my MediCompare blogs or pages for a rundown on how to pick as well as a list of providers.

If your medical condition requires a physical exam or your symptoms are worsening or changing quickly, an online GP consult may not be for you, even if you are in regional, rural, or remote Australia. Finding your closest walk-in clinic online for a same-day GP appointment may be your best bet. (If your condition may be severe, head to A&E or call an ambulance.) Healthdirect [1] is the government’s site to help you find the closest open urgent care clinic. They are generally open extended hours seven days a week. These clinics offer fully bulk-billed services.

If your GP clinic does not have any same-day telehealth appointments available, they may be able to refer you to another clinic in their network that does. You can also refer to the government’s Healthdirect site [1]. Do make sure you check on fees, as not all GP clinics offer bulk billing, and they may charge higher fees than general telehealth providers. Some individual GPs specialise in telehealth, such as Dial The Doc’s GP, Dr Jeremy Allen. It is worthwhile checking out this option, as they are more likely to be highly experienced with providing virtual consults. You could also use the MediCompare comparison tool to check prices, wait times and more.

Finding same-day GP appointments online is easy if you know where to look and what exactly you’re looking for. You can contact your regular GP clinic, use a comprehensive telehealth provider offering GP consults, compare GPs specialising in telehealth, or find your closest walk-in urgent care clinic on Healthdirect to be assessed in person. Know what you are looking for, how long you are prepared to wait for, and check with reception or customer service what your out-of-pocket cost will be.

This article is for informational purposes only and is no substitute for professional medical advice. Please choose your provider with care. Always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional regarding any health-related questions or concerns.

[1] https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/