Using Telehealth Between GP Visits: Managing Ongoing Health Concerns

If you live with an ongoing health concern, such as high blood pressure, an underactive thyroid, asthma or a mental health condition, telehealth can be a practical way to get help between visits to your regular GP. It works well for things like repeat prescriptions, reviewing test results and checking in about a specific question. It doesn’t replace the regular, hands-on reviews and care planning your usual GP provides.

Here’s how to use telehealth well alongside your regular care, and what still needs to happen in person.

Where telehealth fits in ongoing care

Most ongoing health conditions are best managed by a GP who knows you, with regular in-person reviews. But life doesn’t always line up with your GP’s appointment book. You might run low on a medicine, get test results back while your GP is on leave, or have a question that can’t wait three weeks.

That’s where a telehealth GP can help, as long as the issue doesn’t need an examination.

What telehealth can help with between visits

Repeat prescriptions for stable conditions

If you’ve been taking a regular medicine and your condition is stable, a telehealth GP may be able to prescribe a further supply if clinically appropriate, with an eScript sent to your phone. They’ll ask about your condition, any side effects and when your last review was. They may suggest you see your regular GP soon, or arrange blood tests, before prescribing more. See online prescriptions.

At Teldoc, our GPs don’t prescribe S8 or S4D controlled medicines, such as strong opioid pain relief, or weight-loss medicines.

Blood tests and test results

Many ongoing conditions need regular blood tests, for example to check cholesterol, thyroid levels, kidney function or blood sugar. A telehealth GP can send you a blood test referral and go through the results with you afterwards. Read more about routine blood testing.

Home readings

If you check your own blood pressure, blood sugar or peak flow at home, a doctor can review your readings by phone or video. Write them down with the date and time, or keep them in an app, and have them ready for the call. Our pages on blood pressure, cholesterol and thyroid conditions explain how we can help.

Specialist referrals

If you see a specialist regularly, you’ll need a current referral. A telehealth GP can provide a referral letter when it’s appropriate, especially if you already have letters or results from the specialist to share.

A new or changing symptom you want advice on

If something has changed and you’re not sure whether it matters, a telehealth GP can talk it through and tell you whether it can wait for your usual GP, needs a same-day in-person visit or needs emergency care.

Your mental health

Living with a long-term condition can affect your mood. A telehealth GP can talk through how you’re feeling, offer advice and refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist where appropriate. See our mental health services.

Time off during a flare-up

If your condition flares and you can’t work or study, a telehealth GP can provide a medical certificate if clinically appropriate.

What should stay with your regular GP

• Chronic condition management plans. These Medicare-funded care plans (previously called GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements) are generally prepared and reviewed by your usual GP or practice. Teldoc doesn’t provide chronic disease management plans.
• Regular check-ups and examinations. Such as listening to your chest, checking your feet if you have diabetes, measuring your blood pressure in the clinic or examining a joint.
• Vaccinations, procedures and skin checks.
• Medicine reviews when you take several medicines or your treatment needs changing.
• Anything that hasn’t improved after a telehealth consultation.

If you don’t have a regular GP, it’s worth finding one. You can search for local services using the healthdirect service finder.

How to get the most from a telehealth check-in

• Keep an up-to-date list of your conditions, medicines (with doses), and allergies.
• Have recent letters, results and home readings ready.
• Know the name of your usual GP and specialist, so a summary can be sent to them with your consent.
• If you use My Health Record, keep it current so doctors can see relevant information.
• Be clear about the one or two things you want help with today.
• Ask what to watch for and when to follow up.

When to get urgent help

Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if you have:

• chest pain, or pain spreading to your arm, jaw or back
• severe difficulty breathing, or an asthma attack that isn’t easing with your usual reliever
• signs of a stroke: face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech
• confusion, fainting or collapse
• thoughts of harming yourself

For mental health support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. If you’re unsure how urgent something is, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse, 24 hours a day.

How Teldoc can help

Teldoc’s AHPRA-registered GPs consult by phone or video, 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm (Sydney time), and most patients are seen within 15 minutes. General consultations are $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends and public holidays, with no Medicare rebate. See our fees page for details. For a broader overview, read what telehealth can and can’t do.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get my regular medicine prescribed through telehealth?

Often, yes. If your condition is stable and it’s clinically appropriate, a telehealth GP can prescribe a further supply and send an eScript to your phone. They may ask you to see your regular GP or have tests first. Controlled medicines aren’t prescribed by Teldoc.

Does Teldoc provide chronic disease management plans?

No. Chronic condition management plans are generally prepared by your usual GP or practice. Teldoc can help with specific concerns between those visits, such as prescriptions, test results and referrals.

Can a telehealth doctor review my blood test results?

Yes. A telehealth GP can order blood tests and go through the results with you by phone or video, and tell you if anything needs follow-up in person.

Will my regular GP know about my telehealth consultation?

With your consent, a summary of the consultation can be sent to your usual GP so your records stay complete.

This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.

Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), September 2026