Top 24/7 telehealth providers

If you’re wondering how to find a genuinely decent 24/7 virtual healthcare provider, you’re in good company. In my research for MediCompare’s reviews, I often come across services that may have extended hours but advertise as 24/7 providers. Or those that offer 24/7 requests for services but won’t actually respond to any of them between, say, 10 pm and 8 am – not what you had in mind when you googled 24/7 care, I’m sure. So, let’s have a look at how to spot a good round-the-clock telehealth provider.

1. First of all, 24/7 customer care, both with doctors’ consultations as well as good customer support. Granted, you may not care about customer support if everything goes well with your appointment. However, if you encounter any issues connecting with your doctor, receiving your prescription, accessing the details on your certificate, or experiencing a delay in your medication delivery, you’ll be glad you opted for a provider with decent 24/7 support, too.
2. 24/7 or not, the most established providers have thousands of reviews on multiple sites  (not just their own). They also rank highly on all of them if their service offering is consistent. While it is true that people with bad experiences may be more likely to feel compelled to post about it online, the very negative reviews should not comprise more than about 10%, maybe 15%, of all reviews. Also, pay attention to recent trends by checking for the latest reviews and conducting keyword searches for the specific type of service you require. I normally scan the newest page of reviews to check if there are any emerging trends, as providers can change hands, policies, contact centres, etc., all of which can lead to changes in service levels.
3. This one is a bit of a personal preference: Check details of the specific offering you are after. That includes doctors’ qualifications, pricing, bulkbilling options, available time, wait times, and system requirements. You can easily check in our online comparison tools or in-depth reviews.
4. Transparency and ease of use. While this may not be top of your mind when searching, for me, they are invaluable indicators of a service. Just as I would want my regular GP clinic to be straightforward to book, I believe the best telehealth services are upfront with costs, qualifications, and wait times. I also don’t want to struggle to book or connect with a doctor when I’m sick, so ease of use is essential. Oftentimes, these two go hand-in-hand, as I’ve found.

Based on the criteria above, only a handful of telehealth providers I have reviewed tick all the boxes. Some are close.

• Prime Medic: Award-winning and highly rated premium telehealth provider that offers GP consultations at a competitive rate. Also offers bulk billing for eligible patients outside of business hours. Great customer service.
• Doctor @ Home: A remote GP services clinic which offers bulk billing and private appointments as well as consultations with specialists. It’s not the cheapest option, but if you don’t qualify for bulk billing, the doctors’ level of experience, the option of consultations in multiple languages, the ability to choose a specific doctor, and the comprehensive list of services may be worth the higher price.
• Healthy Life and Hola Health: Hola Health is the team behind both services, meaning the services are a bit more affordable by booking directly, but booking via Healthy Life gets you free medication delivery (though not on the same day, generally). Mid-range of prices for GP-delivered services (although with hidden surcharges) and consistently high ratings make this a solid choice. Bulk billing for some scripts and mental health care plans only.
• Doctors on Demand: Highly rated service offering experienced AHPRA-registered doctors at a premium price—transparent wait time (with position in queue visible as soon as you start the booking process).
• DoctorHelp: Newer, lower-cost telehealth provider with AHPRA-registered health practitioners. Based on the reviews available, it is off to a good start.

While there are plenty of telehealth providers out there, most are closed late at night and in the early hours. If you are seeking a genuine 24/7 provider with good reviews, your options are somewhat limited. But you can still choose between a handful of successful providers.

This content does not represent medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. Please consult a healthcare professional for any health-related questions you may have.