After hours GP helpline now available – free

After hours GP advice is a phone call away for Australian families with the launch of the after hours GP helpline.

The new helpline will provide late night consultation for families, carers and anyone else needing medical advice after hours.

The after hours GP helpline will be open when GPs may not be – at nights, on weekends and on public holidays – 365 days a year.

In the middle of the night, mums and dads will be able to speak to a nurse or GP to get advice and, if needed, be referred to their nearest open after-hours service.

Medibank Health Solutions, will operate the after hours GP helpline with a team of about 100 GPs and more than 240 nurses on staff to answer calls.

The after hours GP helpline will be added to existing telephone-based nurse triage, information and advice services currently available across the country.

The service will be free to callers from landlines within Australia and will operate between:

6pm and 8am Monday to Friday
6pm Friday to 8am Saturday
12pm Saturday to 8am Monday
and on all national and state/territory public holidays.

The after hours GP helpline number is 1800 022 222.

The service will be available in most states and territories from 1 July 2011 – in Queensland from early 2012, building on Queensland’s existing nurse advice line. The Victorian Government has not taken up the service to date.

See the Web site here.

30 June 2011.