What are ‘after-hours’ health services?

After-hours health services can help you when your usual daytime healthcare professional or service is not available

There are different healthcare services that are available after-hours, including doctors, urgent care clinics, pharmacies, dentists and mental health counsellors.

If your medical problem is urgent or serious, go to the hospital emergency department.

After-hours healthcare and doctor services usually operate:

• after 6pm and before 8am on weekdays
• before 8am and after midday on Saturdays
• all day Sundays and public holidays

What should I do if my doctor is closed?

If your doctor is closed, contact an after-hours GP service and book an appointment directly with them.

After-hours GP services may:

• offer telehealth appointments and in-home visits
• bulk bill where the government pays for part or all the cost
• charge you a fee to use their service

Check the service’s website or call the service to find out what it offers, who it is available for and how much it costs.

Use the healthdirect after-hours GP (general practitioner) search tool to find after-hours doctors in your area.

Some examples of after-hours GP services are:

• 13SICK on 13 74 25 for telehealth and home visits
• Call The Doctor on 1300 640 471 for telehealth and home visits (Hobart and Tasmania only)
• Canberra After hours Locum Medical Service (CALMS) on (02) 6260 3300 for people living in the ACT
• Victorian Virtual Emergency Department for people living in Victoria with non-life-threatening emergencies
• Victorian Aboriginal Health Service on 132 660 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in certain parts of Victoria

Ask your doctor or health clinic for their advice about what to do if you ever need after-hours healthcare.

When can I go to a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic?

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) provide urgent care when you do not need an emergency department but cannot wait for a doctor’s appointment. This includes:

• minor fractures
• small burns
• urinary tract infections
• serious stomach aches

They are usually run by doctors, and are open for long hours, 7 days a week. Medicare UCCs provide bulk-billed healthcare, and you don’t need an appointment or referral.

Use the healthdirect Service Finder to find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

What other healthcare is available for urgent medical situations?

Virtual care clinics, also known as virtual emergency services, offer care with emergency-trained health professionals via phone or video call. You can access virtual care for urgent, but not life-threatening, health concerns such as:

• respiratory illnesses
• abdominal pain
• urinary tract infections
• insect stings and bites

Using a virtual care clinic means you can get medical advice and care without needing to travel. You do not need an appointment or referral to use a virtual care clinic.

Virtual care clinics are currently only available in certain states. To find a virtual care clinic near you, use the healthdirect Service Finder.

How do I get a prescription when my pharmacy is closed?

Some pharmacies stay open late so you can get prescription medicines.

To find a pharmacy open late near you, use the healthdirect Service Finder.

What should I do if I need dental work after hours?

If you have a dental problem after-hours and aren’t sure if it can wait to be checked by your usual dentist, you can call the Australian Dental Foundation's emergency dental hotline on 0407 111 117. They are available by phone to discuss your symptoms and help connect you with a dentist near you.

What should I do if I need mental health care after hours?

For mental health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14 for crisis support and suicide prevention services
• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for support with anxiety, depression and mental health crises
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 for counselling for people affected by suicide, or with thoughts of suicide
• 13YARN on 13 92 76 to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter
• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, if you’re aged up to 25 years, for counselling

Some states and territories have 24-hour mental healthcare phonelines that can assist you if you are in distress or have a mental health crisis:

• ACT — Mental Health Triage Crisis and Assessment Team, call 1800 629 354
• NSW — NSW Mental Health Line, call 1800 011 511
• NT — Northern Territory Mental Health Line, call 1800 682 288
• QLD — 13 HEALTH, call 13 43 25 84
• SA — Mental Health Assessment and Services, call 13 14 65
• TAS — Mental Health Helpline, call 1800 332 388
• VIC — call Nurse-on-call on 1300 60 24
• WA — Mental Health Emergency Response Line, call 1300 555 788

Where can I get the emergency contraception pill after hours?

If you need emergency contraception (the ‘morning after’ pill) after hours, you can get it from pharmacies that are open late. You don’t need a prescription to get the emergency contraception pill.

To find a pharmacy open late near you, use the healthdirect Service Finder.

It's best to take the emergency contraception pill within 24 hours of having unprotected sex.

Can I get a physiotherapist appointment after hours?

Some physiotherapists provide appointments outside of usual business hours. The Australian Physiotherapy Association’s Find a Physio directory can help you find a physiotherapist in your local area.

What costs are involved with after-hours healthcare?

Going to a pharmacy or calling a helpline for advice is usually free.

Most after-hours health professionals will charge a fee. It may cost more than during normal business hours and will depend on the provider. Part of the fee may be covered by Medicare. Call the clinic or look at their website to see if there is information on fees available.

When should I go to hospital?

You should go to a hospital emergency department (also known as an ‘ED’) if you or someone in your care is seriously ill, injured or becomes unwell suddenly. Emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You may need to go to a hospital emergency department for these severe or urgent conditions:

• heart attack
• stroke
• severe pain
• problems with breathing or bleeding
• loss of consciousness or unexplained seizures
• allergic reactions
• severe mental health concern

If you’re injured from an accident or other incident, you may also need to go to a hospital emergency department. For example:

• injuries from accidents, physical assaults or falls
• broken bones
• drug overdoses or poisoning
• severe burns

In an emergency, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

How can healthdirect help with after-hours healthcare?

healthdirect can help you with your healthcare needs after hours in different ways.

The healthdirect Symptom Checker will guide you through a set of easy questions to help you understand your symptoms and give advice on what to do — whether you should see a local GP, manage the condition at home, or go to an emergency department.

The healthdirect online A-Z topic library contains articles that help you understand what’s going on with your body and support you with what steps to take next.

The healthdirect helpline offers free, expert health advice, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, over the phone on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse will answer your call and talk to you about your symptoms.

The nurse can:

• advise what type of healthcare you need
• tell you when to get healthcare
• give you details on healthcare in your area
• offer a call back or a video call with a GP
• offer a call back or video call from a healthcare professional at a virtual health clinic

Resources and support

The National Relay Service can help you if you’re d/Deaf or find it hard to hear or speak to hearing people on the phone.

Languages other than English

You can ask for interpreter help for online or telehealth via the National Translating and Interpreting Service at no cost. This is also available after-hours for 150 community languages.

Medicare has factsheets on Medicare Urgent Care Clinics available in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples can call the Yarning SafeNStrong helpline for support on 1800 959 563.