Request a specialist referral letter
If you’d like to request a specialist referral letter for a specialist you’re returning to see, our AHPRA-registered online doctors can assess you. Complete a simple online assessment for $25.99, speak to a doctor- if a referral letter is issued you can download it and print it OR email it to your specialist.
What is a “repeat specialist referral”?
A repeat specialist referral is a letter from a GP to a specialist you have seen in the past. It includes the medical reason for seeing the specialist, and other health information. Referral letters expire after a period of time (usually a year). In Australia, Medicare card-holders can claim a rebate when they see a specialist doctor, once they have a valid specialist referral letter. In the past, if you needed a referral letter, you had to see a GP in person to get one. But seeing an online doctor via telehealth is now a convenient alternative.
Why request a specialist referral letter online?
- Request it today– If you’ve left it till the last minute to sort your referral letter, Qoctor offers same day service. You can even contact us from your specialist’s office.
- Save time– avoid crowded local clinics and inconvenient wait times
- Save money– a telehealth assessment to request a specialist referral from Qoctor is an affordable $25.99
- Keep your GP in the loop– we ask you to provide us with your regular GP’s details, so your specialist knows who to communicate with.
A helpful last minute option
If you find yourself standing in your specialist’s office for your review appointment, suddenly realising that your previous referral letter has expired, it’s easy to request an updated specialist referral letter online from Qoctor, on the spot. Just complete the online assessment, book a telehealth appointment today.
FAQs
Yes- it is quite straightforward to see a doctor online in Australia.
- Your own local GP may offer telehealth appointments as part of their routine services- if so, you maybe able to get bulk-billed, or access a Medicare rebate for some of the telehealth consultation cost. It is worth finding out if this option is available to you. However, many local GP clinics have long waiting times, and it can be difficult to get an online appointment for urgent issues, or if you need one the same day.
- With Qoctor the online doctor, you can book a same day consultation with an experienced AHPRA-registered doctor online, 365 days a year, wherever you are in Australia. It is a particularly useful option if local clinics are booked out. Opening hours are 8AM to midnight on weekdays, and 9AM to 10PM on the weekend. Customer service is available daily via live chat- our Melbourne based team will get back to you quickly if you have any questions.
- Whilst Qoctor is a private service, the fees are affordable, starting at $14.99 for a single, same day medical certificate consultation. This is much less than the “gap fee” now charged in many GP clinics.
- With Qoctor, it is possible to speak to a doctor about a health issue or symptom, request a medical certificate, a carer’s certificate, a specialist referral letter, a pathology referral, an asthma/allergy action plan, a prescription and much more.
- For any long term or complex issues, we strongly encourage patients to see their regular doctor where possible- as it is best to have the continuity of care. If you see a Qoctor doctor online but want your GP to be kept in the loop, we are happy to provide you with a summary or letter to take with you on your next visit, if you wish.
Intending to see a doctor online in Australia? Some important things to bear in mind:
- For medicolegal reasons, you do need to be physically in Australia at the time of your online assessment.
- The doctor should be AHPRA registered- you should be able to easily check their number on the AHPRA website
- The practitioner should be clear whether they are a doctor, a nurse, or other practitioner- some low quality providers are intentionally unclear about this.
- Your privacy and confidentiality should be respected by the provider at all times (at Qoctor we are committed to this). The experience should feel as professional as what you’d expect from an in-person assessment.
- Video call is deemed the gold standard for telehealth, by the Australian medical board. However a telephone call is acceptable in some cases. Low quality websites that only communicate via SMS or online questionnaires are sub-standard, and in many cases may not be fully insured.
Book an online doctor appointment <here>.
A specialist referral letter:
- makes you eligibility for certain Medicare rebates (if you have a valid Medicare card), so a specialist visit will usually cost you less out of pocket.
- provides key information about your health to the specialist
- gives the specialist details of your regular GP, which makes sure your important health information is stored in one place.
Most specialists in Australia require their patients to provide a new referral letter from a GP every 12 months, when their previous one expires. This makes the patient eligible for certain Medicare rebates. If you do not have an up-to-date referral letter when you see your specialist, the specialist appointment may cost you more.
To request a repeat specialist referral letter, go to the Qoctor specialist referrals page, and select “repeat specialist referral”. A telehealath appointment to discuss a repeat specialist referral letter with Qoctor costs $24.99. You will need to answer a few online questions relating to your health. The doctor will go through this information and will discuss your health issues with you over the phone.
It will usually possible to get a same day appointment with Qoctor- if the doctor issues a referral letter, you can download it from your account immediately following your appointment. If you need it faster (for example, if you are already at your specialist waiting room), just use the live chat on the homepage of the website, and the customer service team will try to get your telehealth appointment prioritised. To request a repeat referral letter from Qoctor, start here.
Please note, all treatment and advice is issued subject to your consultation and doctor’s assessment.
To request a specialist referral letter, go to the Qoctor specialist referrals page, and select the type of letter you need. A telehealth assessment to discuss a repeat referral letter with a Qoctor doctor costs $24.99. You will need to answer a few online questions relating to your health. The doctor will go through this information, and will discuss it with you. Subject to assessment, they may complete the referral letter. It will usually take less than 2-3 hours or so to get an appointment with Qoctor from 830AM to 9PM AEST . If you need a letter faster (for example, if you are already at your specialist waiting room), use the live chat on the homepage of the website, and the customer service team will try to prioritise an appointment for you. Get started here.
Why do patients need a referral letter to see a specialist?
A referral letter:
- provides eligibility for certain Medicare rebates, so the visit will usually cost you less out of pocket.
- provides key information about your health to the specialist
- allows the specialist to correspond to your GP, which makes sure your important health information is stored in one place.
Getting a repeat specialist referral letters – most specialists in Australia require their patients to provide a new referral letter from a GP every 12 months, when their previous one expires. This makes the patient eligible for certain Medicare rebates. If you do not have an up-to-date referral letter when you see your specialist, the specialist appointment may cost you more.
New referral letter – A new referral letter allows you to see a new specialist for the first time. By bringing a referral letter to your specialist appointment, it allows eligibility for certain Medicare rebates and the consultation may cost you less. You will need to answer a few online questions relating to your health. The doctor will go through this information, will speak to you about your health, and can issue the referral letter if appropriate. It will usually take less than 2-3 hours or so to get an appointment with Qoctor from 830AM to 9PM AEST . If you need a letter faster (for example, if you are already at your specialist waiting room), use the live chat on the homepage of the website, and the customer service team will try to prioritise an appointment for you. Get started here.
Please note Qoctor provides assessment for new specialist referrals for a specific limited range of issues which include:
- referral to a dermatologist for assessment/management of acne
- referral to a sleep physician for assessment/management of sleep apnoea
- referral to a urologist for a vasectomy
- referral to a gynaecologist for insertion of an IUD
- referral to an eye specialist for laser eye surgery
“Change of specialist” referral letter – For a “change of specialist” letter, you must already have in your possession a valid referral letter that is less than one year old. This is a service you may find useful if you decide to see a different specialist than the one first suggested by your GP. This situation can arise if a specialist’s waiting list turns out to be too long, and you want to try someone with a shorter wait time. You must take BOTH referral letters to your appointment- the original one and the change of specialist letter provided by Qoctor. The cost of a telehealth appointment to discuss this is $24.99. You will need to answer a few online questions relating to your health. The doctor will go through this information and will speak to you about your health- then they can complete the referral letter if appropriate (subject to assessment). Get started here.
The online consultation fee to discuss a specialist referral letter with Qoctor is $24.99. As Qoctor is a private telehealth service, there is no Medicare rebate for this online doctor fee. However, the referral letter may allow you to claim a Medicare rebate when you see the specialist.
What is a repeat specialist referral letter?
A repeat specialist referral is a letter from a GP to a specialist you have seen in the past. It includes the medical reason for seeing the specialist, and other health information. Referral letters expire after a period of time (usually a year). In Australia, Medicare card-holders can claim a rebate when they see a specialist doctor, once they have a specialist referral letter written by a GP. In the past, if you needed a referral letter, you had to see a GP in person to request one. But seeing an online doctor via telehealth is now an easy alternative.
Once you have completed the online assessment for your specialist referral, and made payment, the doctor will review your request. This process often takes a matter of minutes, but it can take an hour or two at busy times (or till the next morning if you make the request outside business hours- i.e. later than 9pm). If they have all the information they need, the doctor will then issue the referral letter- you will be notified via email that you can now download it.
If you are already waiting at your specialist’s office, and need your letter in a hurry- just let our customer service team know via live chat (located on our home page)- they’ll prioritise your letter, and have it sent through to your email, so you can download it from your account as soon as possible.
In Australia, Medicare card-holders can generally claim a Medicare rebate when they see a specialist doctor, once they have a valid specialist referral letter. A valid specialist referral is less than 12 months old, and states the name of the specialist you wish to attend, as well as relevant health information.
The telehealth consultation fee to discuss a specialist referral letter online with Qoctor is $24.99. As Qoctor is a private telehealth service, there is no Medicare rebate for this online doctor fee.
- If the details you provide on your referral questionnaire or patient profile are incorrect and you later wish to change them, please get in touch via info@qoctor.com.au or use the live chat on our home page www.qoctor.com.au
- In some cases, the issue may be rectified without having to book another telehealth consultation.
- However, sometimes, if there is a significant difference in the information required on the letter, you may be asked to book another appointment with a Qoctor doctor.
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