How do I see an online GP in Sydney?
Book a bulk billed telehealth consultation with an AHPRA-registered Australian GP and meet them by video or phone — from anywhere in Sydney. Same-day appointments are usually available, including evenings and weekends.
The consultation, eScripts, medical certificates, and specialist referrals are bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders. Telehealth handles most routine GP issues; for emergencies call 000.
Telehealth GP services for Sydney residents
Sydney is home to around 5.4 million people across more than 600 suburbs. GP access varies dramatically across the metropolitan area: inner-city and Eastern Suburbs clinics tend to have shorter waits but lower bulk-billing rates, while Western Sydney has more bulk-billing clinics but commonly longer waitlists. Telehealth bypasses the geography and the queue — wherever you are in Sydney, the consultation is the same.
NewDoc connects Sydney residents with AHPRA-registered Australian GPs across NSW. Most issues that don't need a hands-on physical examination can be managed by video or phone. You get the eScript or certificate before the call ends. See our NSW bulk billed telehealth page for the state-level Medicare and eligibility detail.
When telehealth works, and when it doesn't
Telehealth is well suited to most routine GP work: repeat prescriptions, medical certificates, common infections (UTI, sore throat, sinusitis, conjunctivitis), reflux, contraception advice, mental health support and Mental Health Treatment Plans, asthma and eczema management, hay fever, and referrals (specialist, blood test, imaging).
Telehealth is not suitable when a physical examination is needed (ear-drum check, palpating an abdomen, joint examination), for procedures (injections, IUD insertion, skin lesion removal), or for symptoms suggesting an emergency. Your NewDoc GP will tell you if in-person attendance is appropriate. For an emergency, call 000 or attend the nearest Sydney emergency department.
Common reasons Sydneysiders book a telehealth GP
High pollen counts during the southern-spring season drive lots of hay fever and asthma consultations. Sydney's commuter culture means many people prefer a telehealth GP for urgent issues like UTIs or sore throat rather than losing half a day to a clinic visit. NewDoc also sees a high volume of repeat prescriptions for chronic conditions — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reflux, eczema.
Mental health is a major reason for online GP visits in Sydney. A Mental Health Treatment Plan gives access to up to 10 Medicare-rebated psychology sessions per calendar year, which can be a significant cost saving in a city with high out-of-pocket psychology fees.
Sydney emergency departments and after-hours care
For an emergency, call 000 or attend the nearest ED. Sydney's major EDs include Royal Prince Alfred (RPA, Camperdown), Royal North Shore (St Leonards), St Vincent's (Darlinghurst), Westmead Hospital, Prince of Wales (Randwick), Liverpool, Nepean (Kingswood), and Sydney Children's (Randwick). Wait times vary significantly — see our NSW emergency wait times page for a current snapshot.
For non-emergencies after-hours, options include after-hours bulk billing telehealth (such as NewDoc), urgent care clinics across Sydney, and home-visit services. For minor injuries or moderate illness that can't wait until morning but isn't life-threatening, NSW Health publishes a directory of urgent care clinics across Sydney, many of which bulk bill.
Bulk billing and Medicare for Sydney patients
Bulk billing in person has become harder to find across Sydney, especially in the Northern Beaches, North Shore, and parts of the Eastern Suburbs. Many in-person GP clinics now charge a gap fee, and the gap can be $40–$80 per consultation. NewDoc bulk bills every telehealth consultation for eligible Medicare cardholders, so there is no out-of-pocket cost regardless of which Sydney suburb you live in.
To use the service you need a valid Medicare card and to be in Australia at the time of the consultation. Eligibility for Medicare-funded telehealth follows the standard MBS rules.
How to book
Booking takes around a minute. You select a time, confirm Medicare details, and a NewDoc GP calls you at the booked time. The consultation typically lasts 10–15 minutes; if an eScript or referral is issued, it arrives by SMS within a few minutes. From the start of the booking to a script in your pharmacy queue, most people can finish the whole flow in under an hour.
Last reviewed 14 May 2026. Editorial policy