Are you up late at night because one of your family members has a fever, and it feels like the closest doctor’s office is too far away? Or maybe you found out it’s closed. You’re probably thinking, “What now?” because waiting until morning just isn’t an option – you just need a doctor and fast.
In Australia, the government has made sure that you can see a GP any time you need one, day or night. They’ve set up special programs so that doctors are always available. Plus, lots of private companies are on board too, making sure you can get medical help whenever you need it. Even if you’re not living in a big city, you’ve still got options for finding a doctor. In this post, you will get to know how to get in touch with an after hours GP.
Several After-Hours GPs in Australia
If you face a medical issue outside of business hours, you normally have to wait until your general practice reopens. However, in case of a medical or mental health emergency, you shouldn’t wait. Instead, immediately call the 000 line to request an ambulance.
Meanwhile, you can seek after-hours services if your life isn’t under threat. These businesses or government-supported organizations provide health services outside of normal hours. These healthcare services include phone/video calls, home visits, walk-ins, consultations, or linkage to available practitioners.
1. 13CURE – Home Visiting GP Service
13CURE’s after-hours GP service ensures you can manage your health needs at any hour, ideal for those with busy schedules. With their late-night doctors, you can tackle medical concerns that don’t warrant an ER visit, avoiding long waits in hospital emergency departments. These after-hours doctors are equipped to handle urgent and severe conditions that are not life-threatening. However, in situations where you believe your life is in danger, you should immediately seek emergency services or go directly to the ER.
2. Urgent Care Clinics
Medical Urgent Care Clinics are designed to handle emergencies that can’t wait until normal general practice hours. To access these services, you can locate the nearest clinic using the Healthdirect Service Finder. There’s no need for referrals or an appointment; you can simply walk in. Additionally, they offer bulk billing, making it a convenient option for immediate medical care.
3. Children’s Health Services
If your child requires an after-hours doctor, you can use these services:
- Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care: This service will connect you to emergency doctors and nurses. They offer services to children aged 6 months to 18 years and are open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
- KidsDocOnCall: If your child requires urgent care, you can contact a pediatrician within an hour for subscribers and 2 hours for non-subscribers. Though they are available at all times, they may be unable to receive calls due to demand.
- Cub Care: You can use this service to receive pediatric services and advice.
4. Medical Chests
Medical Chest is a program created by the Royal Flying Doctor. It provides treatments in areas 80 km away from medical services. They give prescriptions, first aid, and other services.
5. Mental Health Support
If you have a mental crisis, it’s best to call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department or 24-hour healthcare center.
If your life isn’t at risk, you can contact:
- Lifeline: This service offers short-term help for those having suicidal thoughts. You can call 13 11 14 or use their online chat.
- Beyond Blue: They offer 24-hour counseling for anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. You can reach them on their website.
6. Services with Communication Support
If you have hearing/speech impediments, you can use the National Relay service. They’ll assist you with text-to-speech and English-AUSLAN translation technology.
However, if your communication issue comes from poor/not speaking English, you can use the National Translating and Interpreting service. They’ll facilitate your healthcare experience via telehealth service. They can translate into 150 languages.
6. Telehealth and Helplines
You can also receive consultation advice and discuss your symptoms via online telehealth services. Though some may be free, you’ll have to check to know if you’ll have to pay for it and whether they accept bulk billing. Here are after-hours telehealth services:
- Health Direct: At any time, you can discuss an issue or seek medical care or advice with a registered nurse with this service. To access this government-funded service, you should call 1800 022 222.
- Victorian Virtual Emergency Department: This service connects you to emergency doctors and nurse practitioners during non-life-threatening emergencies. You can contact them on their website.
- Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby: This government-funded hotline gives you access to a nurse so you can discuss maternal/child health. You can contact this 24 hr service on: 1800 882 436.
- Medical Deputising: This service gives you access to a doctor if your GP isn’t available or you don’t have one. They offer telehealth appointments and usually bulk-bill.
- Call the Doctor: You can access telehealth services by calling 1300 640 471 or visiting their website.
- Yarning SafeNStrong: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can contact fellow indigenous individuals for support at 1800 959 563.
- Brother to Brother: This helpline only has Indigenous staff and focuses on giving Aboriginal men a culturally safe service. You call them on this number: 1800 435 799.
- Australian Dental Foundation: At any time, you can discuss your dental problems and find a dentist’s contact by calling 0407 111 117.
Conclusion
Getting medical help after hours in Australia is much easier now, credit goes to service providers like 13CURE. With 13CURE, you can address non-emergency medical concerns without the long waits associated with ER visits, offering a practical solution for those urgent but not life-threatening conditions.
Though you should first contact your general practice to check if they offer services at that time or can suggest a doctor, there are other options. You can get a home doctor visit or use telehealth services and helplines. With these options, you can access these services from just about anywhere – even in remote areas! However, if you need emergency care for a life-threatening issue, call 000 and ask for an ambulance.
