GP After Hours Helpline Begins Service in Queensland
Queenslanders have been given access to the popular after hours GP helpline, which means that people living in the Sunshine State will now be able to get medical advice from a GP after hours.
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Joint Release
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Federal Minister For Health
The Hon Peter Lawlor MP
State Member for Southport
8 March 2012Queenslanders have been given access to the popular after hours GP helpline, which started service in the state this week.
Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek made the announcement as the after hours GP helpline, which has been operating in some other states since last year, notched up its 100,000th call.
She said under the new service people living in the Sunshine State will now be able to get medical advice from a GP after hours.
“By calling the after hours GP helpline, Queenslanders will be able to speak to a doctor and get expert medical advice where they need, when they need it – including at night, on weekends and public holidays,” said Ms Plibersek.
“The service is particularly useful for young parents who might need advice if a child falls ill from a fever or an elderly person who needs to speak to a doctor at night.”
Queenslanders who use the helpline can continue to have their calls answered by 13HEALTH nurses. Calls will be transferred to the after hours GP helpline if callers need to speak to a GP.
People can also call the regular after hours GP helpline number on 1800 022 222.
The helpline is free to callers from landlines within Australia and operates between 6pm and 8am Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon Saturday to 8am Monday, and on all national and state/territory public holidays.
Ms Plibersek made the announcement along with Peter Lawlor, the State Member for Southport, while visiting the Sunshine Coast.
“Ours is a big state and services such as the helpline that better connect Queenslanders with their health system will mean real, on-the-ground benefits for local people,” said Mr Lawlor.
“From the top of the Gulf down to Tweed Heads, from central Queensland across to the eastern seaboard, anyone who needs to talk to a GP after hours will be able to.”
By being able to speak with a GP after hours, two out of three callers are receiving the advice they need over the phone without having to wait for a face-to-face consultation. The remaining one third of callers, those who require urgent face-to-face attention, are referred to emergency services, or to local after hours services.
Since its introduction, callers have used the after hours GP helpline for a variety of reasons – mainly abdominal pain or discomfort; as well as children’s fever, cough and vomiting; and post-operative problems, headache and diarrhoea.
For media inquiries, please contact Minister Plibersek’s office on 02 6277 7220
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