What Is Telehealth? How a Telehealth GP Consultation Works, Step by Step

Telehealth means seeing a health professional by phone or video instead of in a clinic. A telehealth GP consultation follows the same steps as a normal appointment: the doctor asks about your symptoms and history, gives advice, and can send prescriptions, medical certificates and referrals to you electronically if they’re clinically appropriate.

If you’ve never had one, here’s what telehealth is, how a consultation works from booking to follow-up, and how to get the most out of it.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth (sometimes called telemedicine or virtual care) is healthcare delivered remotely. In Australia it most often means a real-time phone or video consultation with a GP, specialist, nurse or allied health professional.

The doctor you speak to must be registered with AHPRA, the national regulator, and follows the same professional standards as they would in a clinic. The Medical Board of Australia’s telehealth guidelines expect a real-time conversation between you and the doctor, rather than prescribing or issuing certificates from an online questionnaire alone.

Phone or video: which is better?

Both work well for many concerns. Video lets the doctor see things like a rash, swelling or how you’re breathing. Phone is useful if your internet is unreliable or you’d simply prefer it. Your doctor may ask to switch to video, or ask for a photo, if seeing the problem would help.

How a telehealth consultation works, step by step

1. Book your appointment

You book online and choose a time, or join the queue to be seen as soon as a doctor is available. You’ll usually be asked for your name, date of birth, contact details and Medicare card (if you have one), plus a short reason for the consultation.

2. Get ready

A few minutes of preparation makes the consultation quicker and more useful:

• Find a quiet, private spot with good light and reception.
• Charge your phone or device, and check your camera and microphone if you’re using video.
• Have your Medicare card and a list of any medicines, allergies and past conditions handy.
• Write down your symptoms, when they started and any questions you want to ask.
• If you have test results, letters or home readings (such as blood pressure), keep them nearby.
• Know the name of your preferred pharmacy and your usual GP.

3. The doctor calls you

At the start, the doctor will confirm who you are and check you’re happy to go ahead by phone or video. If you’re calling on behalf of a child or someone you care for, they’ll need to be with you.

4. The consultation

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history and medicines, just as they would face to face. They may ask you to show them the problem on camera, take your temperature or describe what you can see. Then they’ll explain what they think is going on and talk through the options with you.

5. Prescriptions, certificates and referrals

If they’re clinically appropriate, the doctor can:

• send an eScript to your phone, which you can take to any pharmacy (see online prescriptions)
• email you a medical certificate for work, study or carer’s leave
• email referrals for blood tests and imaging or a referral letter to a specialist

The doctor decides what’s appropriate after assessing you. A telehealth consultation doesn’t guarantee a particular prescription or certificate.

6. Follow-up

Before the call ends, the doctor should tell you what to watch for, when to follow up and when you need to be seen in person. If you’ve had tests, you’ll be told how you’ll get the results. With your consent, a summary can be sent to your usual GP so your records stay complete.

What does telehealth cost?

It depends on the service and on Medicare rules. Medicare only covers a telehealth GP consultation if you’ve seen that practice in person in the past 12 months, or if an exemption applies. Because Teldoc is a telehealth-only service, most general consultations have no Medicare rebate.

At Teldoc, general consultations are $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends and public holidays. Some consultations are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card, such as sexual health consultations and babies under 12 months. See our fees page for the full details.

What telehealth isn’t for

Telehealth isn’t for emergencies, and it can’t replace a hands-on examination. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding or any other emergency, call 000. Our guide What telehealth can and can’t do explains which concerns suit telehealth and when to see a GP in person.

Not sure whether it suits your situation? Read Is telehealth right for you?

Telehealth with Teldoc

Teldoc Australia is an independent, Australian-owned telehealth GP service. Our 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. You can see the full range of telehealth services we offer, or read our frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a video call, or is phone OK?

Either is usually fine. Video helps when the doctor needs to see something, such as a rash. Phone works well if your internet is unreliable. The doctor may ask to switch to video or for a photo if it would help.

What do I need for a telehealth appointment?

A phone or device with a charged battery, a quiet private place, your Medicare card if you have one, and a list of your medicines, allergies and symptoms. Have any recent test results nearby.

How do I get my prescription after a telehealth consultation?

If the doctor prescribes treatment, you’ll receive an eScript on your phone as a text message or email. You show the token at any pharmacy to have it dispensed.

Does Medicare cover telehealth?

Medicare only covers a telehealth GP consultation if you’ve seen the practice in person in the past 12 months or an exemption applies. Some consultations, such as sexual health consultations, are bulk billed for eligible patients. Check the service’s fees page.

Can someone else join my telehealth consultation?

Yes. A parent, carer, partner or interpreter can join if you’d like them to. Let the doctor know at the start. A child or person being cared for needs to be present for their own consultation.

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