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After-hours bulk billed telehealth GP: $0 if Medicare eligible

Same-day, evening, weekend, and public-holiday telehealth GP appointments. $0 out of pocket if you're eligible for Medicare bulk billing, with no after-hours surcharge.

Can I see a bulk billed GP after hours via telehealth?

Yes. NewDoc telehealth appointments are available evenings, weekends, and public holidays, conducted by Australian-trained GPs by video or phone. Bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders, with no after-hours surcharge on the consultation, eScripts, medical certificates, or referrals.

Same-day and next-available slots are shown at booking. The visit is typically 10 to 15 minutes, with any documents emailed to your phone shortly after the call. Schedule 8 medication and acute emergencies still require in-person care.

Quick answer: who, when, and at what cost

Yes. AHPRA-registered Australian GPs at NewDoc bulk bill after-hours telehealth consultations evenings, weekends, and public holidays, with no after-hours surcharge. Under the Medicare Benefits Schedule the after-hours window is weekdays before 8am and after 8pm, and all day Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. For eligible Medicare cardholders the consult, eScript, medical certificate, and any specialist referral are $0 out-of-pocket (bulk-billed): most NewDoc consults complete the same waking day they're booked (median 5.0 hours booking-to-consult, per NewDoc April 2026 utilisation data). Schedule 8 medication and acute emergencies (chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding) still require in-person or emergency care.

  • Evenings, weekends, public holidays
  • $0 with Medicare
  • No after-hours surcharge
  • Same-day appointments
  • Australian-trained GPs
  • Scripts, certificates, referrals included

When after-hours telehealth helps

Most regular GP clinics close at 5pm or 6pm on weekdays with reduced hours on weekends, leaving a real gap that drives many people to ED for situations a GP could resolve. If you fall sick on a Sunday afternoon, run out of a script on a public holiday, or notice symptoms that need attention before Monday morning, the practical options have historically been: wait, attend an after-hours clinic in person, or visit an emergency department. After-hours bulk billed telehealth is a fourth option that covers most situations a regular GP would handle, without the wait or the travel.

The scale of the gap is well documented. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare recorded 9.1 million emergency department presentations in 2024–25, 328 per 1,000 population, up from 8.8 million in 2020–21. A separate AIHW report on lower-urgency ED care found that around 1 in 3 ED presentations were classified as lower urgency between 2017–18 and 2023–24, many of which a GP could have managed. The age-standardised rate of after-hours lower-urgency ED presentations was 50 per 1,000 population in 2023–24. Same-day, bulk-billed telehealth GP access is the most direct way to keep those situations out of ED.

For eligible Medicare cardholders, the consultation is bulk billed at the same rate as standard hours. There is no after-hours surcharge on the consultation itself or on any eScript, medical certificate, or referral issued during the visit.

What an after-hours telehealth GP can help with

Most non-emergency primary-care needs are well-suited to an after-hours telehealth consultation.

When after-hours telehealth is not the right option

Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies. Call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department for anything that could be life-threatening, including chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, suspected stroke, severe bleeding, severe burns, loss of consciousness, suspected poisoning, or a serious head injury.

For situations that need a hands-on physical examination but are not emergencies, the in-person alternatives include:

  • A Medicare urgent care clinic for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses (fractures, deep cuts, ear or eye complaints, infections, minor burns), open extended hours and free to attend.
  • A walk-in after-hours GP clinic local to you (the Healthdirect Service Finder is the authoritative source for current opening hours).
  • Your nearest emergency department for serious but non-life-threatening situations. Live ED wait times across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, and selected private hospitals are published live to help you decide.

Schedule 8 medication (including stimulants and certain controlled drugs) typically requires an established in-person prescriber relationship rather than telehealth. Your GP will tell you if this applies to your situation.

How after-hours bulk billed telehealth works

Booking takes under two minutes, the consultation runs 10–15 minutes, and any documents land on your phone shortly after the call.

  1. Book online in under two minutes. Same-day, evening, weekend, and public holiday slots are shown alongside daytime slots; pick the next-available time, enter your Medicare card, and choose video or phone.
  2. Join the call at your appointment time. The GP takes a focused history and discusses options. Most consultations take 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Receive your outputs. Any eScript, medical certificate, pathology referral, imaging referral, or specialist referral is sent to your phone, usually within minutes of the call ending. eScripts can be filled at any Australian pharmacy, including after-hours and 24-hour pharmacies if your regular pharmacy is closed.

Cost

$0

Bulk billed to Medicare

For eligible Medicare cardholders. Same rate as standard hours, no after-hours surcharge. Consultation, eScripts, certificates, and referrals all included.

$69.95

Private consultation

For patients without Medicare eligibility. Still includes eScripts, certificates, and referrals at no extra charge. No after-hours loading.

After-hours telehealth across Australia

NewDoc telehealth is available Australia-wide for eligible Medicare cardholders, regardless of state, suburb, or metro/regional/remote location. State-specific information including local emergency contacts, urgent care clinics, and after-hours pharmacy options is on the bulk billed telehealth hub and its per-state pages.

References

This content is informational and does not replace individual medical advice. For personal assessment, book a consultation with your GP. In emergencies, call 000.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

Last reviewed 16 May 2026. Editorial policy

Ready to see a GP?

Book a bulk-billed telehealth consult in under 2 minutes: $0 with Medicare if eligible.

Or call 0481 615 998

Frequently asked questions

What counts as 'after-hours' for a telehealth GP appointment?

For most Australian providers, after-hours covers weekday evenings (typically after 6pm), weekends, and public holidays. NewDoc telehealth appointments are available across all of these windows, including same-day and next-available slots, subject to GP availability.

Is an after-hours telehealth consultation bulk billed?

Yes. NewDoc bulk bills the consultation for eligible Medicare cardholders during evenings, weekends, and public holidays at the same rate as standard hours. There is no after-hours surcharge. Any eScripts, medical certificates, pathology referrals, imaging referrals, or specialist referrals issued during the consultation are also included at no extra cost.

How fast can I see a GP outside business hours?

Same-day and next-available slots are shown at the time of booking. Many appointments are filled within minutes to a few hours of booking, depending on GP availability. The booking flow takes under two minutes; the consultation is usually 10 to 15 minutes; the eScript or certificate is sent to your phone shortly after the call.

Are weekend and public holiday telehealth appointments available?

Yes. NewDoc operates seven days a week, including Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, subject to GP availability. The booking page shows the next-available slots for the time you are looking at, so you can confirm before paying or entering your Medicare details.

What can an after-hours telehealth GP help with?

An after-hours telehealth consultation can cover most non-emergency primary-care needs: a medical certificate, a repeat eScript, a urinary tract infection assessment, mild respiratory or skin complaints, mental health concerns, contraception, a pathology or imaging referral, or a specialist referral. Many people use after-hours telehealth when their regular GP is closed but the issue cannot wait until Monday.

What can't an after-hours telehealth GP help with?

Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies (call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department), for situations requiring a hands-on physical examination (suspected fractures, certain abdominal pain, deep wounds), or for restricted prescribing such as Schedule 8 medication, which typically requires an established in-person prescriber relationship. Your GP will tell you if your situation needs in-person care.

Is there a fee for after-hours appointments?

For eligible Medicare cardholders, no. NewDoc bulk bills the consultation regardless of the time of day or the day of the week, and there is no after-hours loading. For patients without Medicare eligibility, a private fee of $69.95 applies for a 10-minute consultation, with all eScripts, certificates, and referrals included.

Can I get an eScript filled at a pharmacy if my regular pharmacy is closed?

Yes. Australian eScripts are SMS or email tokens with a QR code that can be filled at any Australian pharmacy. NewDoc maintains a directory of after-hours and 24-hour pharmacies across all states and territories. The Healthdirect Service Finder is the authoritative national source for current opening hours, which can change.

Should I see a GP via telehealth or go to an urgent care clinic?

Telehealth is best for situations a GP can resolve via video or phone (scripts, certificates, referrals, common conditions, mental health). A Medicare urgent care clinic is the in-person alternative for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses that need physical examination (fractures, deep cuts, ear or eye complaints, infections, minor burns) without an emergency department visit. The 'where to get care' decision page covers the tradeoff in more detail.

Do I need to have seen a doctor in person in the last 12 months?

Eligibility for bulk billed telehealth depends on your situation under current Medicare provisions. Some patients qualify under the 12-month face-to-face rule; others qualify under exemptions (mental health consultations, infants under 12 months, certain blood-borne and sexual health consultations, residents of designated remote areas). NewDoc checks your eligibility during the booking flow so you know before the appointment.

Can I get a same-day medical certificate after hours?

Yes. If your telehealth GP determines a medical certificate is appropriate during the consultation, it is emailed to you shortly after the call ends, regardless of whether the appointment is during standard hours or after hours. The certificate includes the doctor's full name, AHPRA registration number, and the dates you are unfit for work or study.

Are after-hours telehealth GPs Australian-trained?

Yes. All NewDoc consultations, including evening, weekend, and public-holiday slots, are conducted by Australian-trained General Practitioners. NewDoc does not use junior doctors, registrars, or nurse practitioners for primary consultations.

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