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Queensland bulk billed telehealth GP

Bulk billed telehealth GP consultations for Queensland Medicare cardholders, from Brisbane to Cairns and beyond. AHPRA-registered General Practitioners, eScripts to your phone, no out-of-pocket cost.

How NewDoc serves Queensland

NewDoc is a 100% telehealth general practice service. Consultations are delivered by AHPRA-registered Australian General Practitioners with FRACGP fellowship, by phone or video, and are bulk billed directly to Medicare for eligible cardholders. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the consultation, and any eScripts, medical certificates, or specialist referrals issued during the appointment are included.

Queensland has approximately 5.69 million residents (Australian Bureau of Statistics, September 2025). NewDoc telehealth is available statewide for eligible Medicare cardholders, regardless of suburb. There are no catchment restrictions and you do not need to be an existing NewDoc patient.

Bulk billing in Queensland

Queensland's GP bulk billing rate was 78.9% for the November 2025 to January 2026 quarter (Department of Health), up 3.6 percentage points year-on-year following the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program launch on 1 November 2025. The state's geographic spread is what makes telehealth structurally useful here: a Cairns or Mackay patient seeking a same-day bulk billed appointment competes with Brisbane and Gold Coast residents for the same Medicare-funded item numbers, but a NewDoc telehealth consult is delivered identically regardless of distance from a metro centre.

The 78.9% figure for Queensland reflects all GP attendances in the November 2025 to January 2026 quarter, as reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. NewDoc consultations are bulk billed for every eligible Medicare cardholder, so the state-level distribution does not affect what you pay for a NewDoc consult.

Geography and GP access in QLD

Queensland has approximately 5.7 million residents (ABS, September 2025) spread across one of the most decentralised state populations in Australia. Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Toowoomba, and Rockhampton all anchor distinct catchments, and large parts of the state including the central west and Far North have well-documented GP shortages. Telehealth has been heavily used in Queensland since the COVID period and is well integrated into the way the state's primary care system functions.

Cities and regions covered

Brisbane and South East Queensland

Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast residents can book bulk billed NewDoc telehealth appointments in under 2 minutes. Useful for working parents and shift workers across the South East Queensland corridor.

Townsville, Cairns, and Far North Queensland

Patients in Townsville, Cairns, and the Far North can avoid the long waits common to many regional GP practices by booking a NewDoc telehealth consult. Live ED wait times for Townsville University Hospital and Cairns Hospital are also published on NewDoc.

Central and Western Queensland

Residents in Mackay, Rockhampton, and the central and western regions of the state often face long drives or limited bulk billing options locally. A 10-15 minute telehealth consult covers routine GP needs without the travel.

Toowoomba and the Darling Downs

Toowoomba, Warwick, and the broader Darling Downs region are well served by telehealth for routine consultations. NewDoc GPs can issue eScripts directly to your phone and arrange specialist or pathology referrals as part of the same appointment.

Live ED wait times in QLD

Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies. If you are unsure whether your symptoms warrant an emergency department visit, NewDoc publishes live wait times for 13 QLD hospitals so you can make an informed decision.

View live ED wait times for Queensland hospitals. Data is sourced from the Queensland Health feed and updated regularly.

QLD health resources and hotlines

Telehealth complements, but does not replace, the public health services in your state. The following resources are operated by Queensland Health and partner organisations and may be useful alongside a NewDoc consultation.

  • 13 HEALTH: 13 43 25 84. Free 24/7 confidential phone service that connects Queenslanders with a registered nurse for health advice, information, and referral. Operated by Queensland Health.
  • healthdirect helpline: 1800 022 222. 24/7 phone advice from a registered nurse for any non-emergency health concern. Funded by the Australian Government.

Common conditions managed via telehealth

A NewDoc telehealth GP can assess and manage a wide range of common conditions for Queensland residents, including respiratory and urinary tract infections, anxiety, depression, hay fever, UTIs, insomnia, skin conditions, and ongoing management of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The full list is available on the conditions page.

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 22 April 2026. Editorial policy

Ready to see a GP?

Book a bulk billed telehealth consult in under 2 minutes.

Or call 0481 615 998

Frequently asked questions

Can I see a NewDoc GP from anywhere in Queensland?

Yes. NewDoc telehealth consultations are delivered by phone or video and are available statewide for eligible Medicare patients in Queensland, including regional and remote areas.

Is NewDoc bulk billed for Queensland Medicare cardholders?

Yes. NewDoc bulk bills consultations directly to Medicare for eligible cardholders, with no out-of-pocket cost. Scripts, certificates, and referrals are included.

What if I need a GP in person in Queensland?

Your NewDoc GP will tell you if an in-person examination is needed and can help plan next steps. 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) is also a free 24/7 Queensland Health service for non-urgent navigation.

Can NewDoc send an eScript to a Queensland pharmacy?

Yes. The eScript is an SMS token that can be scanned by any pharmacy in Australia, including any Queensland pharmacy, to dispense your medication. No paper script is required.

Are NewDoc telehealth GPs familiar with Queensland's health system?

Yes. NewDoc GPs are AHPRA-registered Australian General Practitioners. Referrals from a NewDoc GP are accepted by Queensland-based specialists, pathology providers, and imaging providers in line with normal Medicare processes.

What about emergencies?

Telehealth is not for emergencies. Call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, signs of stroke, serious injury, or a mental health crisis. NewDoc publishes live ED wait times for Queensland public hospitals so you can choose where to attend if your situation is urgent but not life-threatening.

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