A: Call The Doctor provides after hours doctor home visits for the general public of Hobart and Adelaide when your own GP is not available. We are a bulk billed service, provided patients have a Medicare or Veterans Affairs card. Call The Doctor employs experienced medical practitioners to provide Best Practice afterhours care for patients in the comfort of their own home. We are available after hours for when you are unexpectedly sick and your regular GP is unavailable. Many of our doctors are fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), or are currently studying towards achieving these goals. We provide a full range of services including advice, starter medications, prescriptions and medical certificates. We are not an emergency service, if you have an emergency, please call 000 immediately.
Q. How much will it cost me?
A: The service is bulk billed to your Medicare card or Department of Veteran Affairs card, meaning no out of pocket expense to you. If you do not have a Medicare Card or Department of Veterans Affairs card then there is a $200 fee. International tourists can claim the consult fee on travel insurance. There may be a $200 call out fee for consults between the hours of midnight and 8am. Patients will be informed of this at point of call.
Q. When are we open?
A: We operate during the specified afterhours periods;
- Monday to Friday before 8:00am and after 6:00pm.
- Saturdays before 8:00am and after 12:00pm
- All day Sundays and public holidays.
Our service does not operate during regular daytime hours.
Q. When can I book a doctor to come out to my house?
2 hours before the opening times.
On weeknights we start taking patient bookings from 4pm and begin seeing patients from 6pm
On Saturdays we take bookings from 10am and begin seeing patients from 12 noon.
On Sundays and public holidays we take bookings 24 hours a day.
Q. Are we for real?
A: Yes we are real and fully accredited service and a member of The National Association of Medical Deputising Services (NAMDS)
Q. What do I need to make a booking?
A: You will need your name, date of birth, address, contact number, Medicare number, presenting condition / problem.
Q. Can I make a booking for more than one person?
A: Yes. We will need the name, date of birth and Medicare number for each person.
Q. How long does it take for a Doctor to see me?
A: We aim to see all patients within 3 hours, however we can usually attend to you in a much shorter time than this. There are times in peak periods where the call numbers are unpredictably high and in these rare circumstances wait times may be longer. You will be advised if the doctor will be late.
Q. How long does it take for a Nurse Practitioner to see me?
A: We aim to see all patients within 3 hours, however we can usually attend to you in a much shorter time than this. There are times in peak periods where the call numbers are unpredictably high and in these rare circumstances wait times may be longer. You will be advised if the Nurse Practitioner will be late.
Q. What if I don’t have a Medicare card or Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) card?
A: If you do not have a Medicare card or DVA card, but are eligible for it, you need to call Medicare (open 24 hours a day) on 13 20 11 to obtain your Medicare card number. The doctor will then be able to attend to you with no charge. If you are not eligible then there is a $200 consult fee.
Q. What if I have a disability?
A: We will see people with disabilities. We have telephone access services to help people with disabilities.
Q. What if I have a language barrier?
A: We have over the phone translating and interpreting services available.
Q. Can I book a doctor for tomorrow or next week?
A: No, we will not take bookings beyond the day you are calling. If you would like to book a consult for the future you will need to ring on that day or make an appointment with your regular General Practitioner.
Q. Can I see the doctor more than once in a day?
A: Yes, providing that your condition worsens or a new condition is present.
Q. Can I get a prescription?
A: Yes, our doctors can write you a prescription at the doctors’ discretion and the presentation is urgent. Our doctor will assess you and supply you with the prescription as deemed necessary. We also carry many commonly used medications that can be offered to you as a starter pack should you not be able to get to the pharmacy straight away.
Q. What if I can’t get to a chemist/pharmacy?
A: Our doctors carry commonly used medications and wound dressings that may be dispensed to patients free of charge.
Q. What about my privacy?
A: We recognise the importance of protecting the privacy and the confidentiality rights of our patients. Our privacy policy tells you how we collect and manage your personal information. Follow this link to read our privacy policy
Q. Are the Doctors well qualified and competent?
A: Doctors working for Call The Doctor are registered with Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Agency (AHPRA), and go through regular training and professional development programs.
Their placement is assessed and approved by the Department of Health before they are employed with our service.
The Board of Directors includes senior doctors within the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Fellowship who have over 30 years experience in medical practice. Our doctors are supervised by medical directors who provide expert medical advice, ensuring quality control and best patient care. Our medical directors also carry out regular clinical audits and provide ongoing clinical supervision to all of our doctors.
Call The Doctor is fully accredited service and a member of The National Association of Medical Deputising Services (NAMDS)
Q. Are the Nurse Practitioners well qualified and competent?
A: Nurse Practitioners working for Call The Doctor are registered with Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Agency (AHPRA), and go through regular training and professional development programs.
They have a
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing – Registered Nurse
- 5+ years of advanced nursing
- Masters Degree in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
- Works within a defined scope of practice
Call The Doctor is fully accredited service and a member of The National Association of Medical Deputising Services (NAMDS)
Q. Why a Nurse Practitioner?
A:When we send a Nurse Practitioner we know that you will be receiving the same level of care you have come to expect from Call The Doctor’s visiting GP’s.
Q. What are the benefits of a Nurse Practitioner?
- With an increase in the overall population, aging baby boomers, will cost the health system increasingly every year. Utilising Nurse Practitioners is a cost effective way to address these issues.
- Nurse Practitioner’s will be a common practitioner in the coming years and the number of then are expected to rise dramatically by 2025.
Q. What if my regular GP is not registered with Call The Doctor?
A: We DO NOT require your regular GP to register with us for you to use our service. On the day following your consult, we will send a detailed report to your regular GP for continuity of care.
Q. Can Call The Doctor provide comprehensive primary care to my family at home?
A: Our service does not replace your regular daytime GP. Our home visiting doctors provide appropriate medical care when needed after hours when your daytime GP is not available. Our doctors are also equipped to treat a range of common ailments.
