Telehealth GP on the Sunshine Coast: How to See a Doctor Without Leaving Home

Not every health concern requires a trip to the clinic. For many things people need a GP for (a follow-up, a repeat prescription, a mental health check-in, results from a recent blood test), a phone or video consultation with a doctor is just as effective. And on the Sunshine Coast, where traffic between suburbs, work commitments, and the practical difficulty of taking time away from the day can make a clinic visit genuinely inconvenient, that flexibility matters.

One Health Clinics Maroochydore offers telehealth appointments for eligible patients, giving you access to a GP without needing to come in. This guide covers how telehealth consultations work, what they can and cannot handle, how telehealth billing and Medicare rebates work, and how to book.

Quick Answer: Telehealth is a GP consultation conducted over the phone or by video call. At One Health Clinics Maroochydore, telehealth appointments are available for eligible patients, and a Medicare rebate applies only where telehealth is a follow-up to an in-clinic visit within the last 12 months. You book online, and your GP calls you or connects by video at the scheduled time. No travel, no waiting room.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Telehealth consultations are subject to individual clinical assessment by a qualified GP. Eligibility, fees, and Medicare rebate conditions are subject to change: confirm current details with the clinic and Services Australia before booking. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have about your health.

What Is Telehealth, and How Does It Actually Work?

Telehealth is a GP consultation that happens over a phone or video call rather than face to face. The consultation is a real medical appointment: a qualified GP assesses your concerns, asks questions, provides clinical advice, and can issue prescriptions, referrals, pathology requests, and care plans. The only difference from an in-person visit is that you and your doctor are in different locations.

In Australia, telehealth consultations have been formally integrated into the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), though a Medicare rebate applies only where telehealth is a follow-up to an in-clinic visit within the last 12 months (see below). At One Health Clinics Maroochydore, telehealth is available as a scheduled appointment type, not as an ad-hoc service.

Phone Consultation	Video Consultation
Audio only: no setup needed	Audio and video: allows visual assessment if helpful
Works on any mobile or landline	Works on smartphone, tablet, or computer
No link or app required	Secure link sent to your phone or email before the appointment
Suitable for most non-visual concerns	Preferred for skin concerns with photos, MHTP reviews, or when the GP wants to observe you
Simpler for patients in lower-connectivity areas	Better for patients who want face-to-face interaction from home

How to Book and Attend a Telehealth Appointment

The process is straightforward. Here is how it works from start to finish at One Health Clinics Maroochydore.

Step 1: Book Online

Open the online booking portal using the link below. Select One Health Clinics Maroochydore and choose Telehealth Consultation as your appointment type. You will see available times for each GP who offers telehealth. Choose your preferred time and complete the booking.

Book online

When booking, provide a brief description of what you want to discuss. You do not need to go into detail, just enough for reception to confirm the appointment type is appropriate. If you are unsure whether your concern suits telehealth, call the clinic on 1300 689 133 and a team member can advise.

Step 2: Confirm Your Contact Details

Make sure the mobile number in your booking is current. For phone consultations, your GP will call you directly at the scheduled time. For video consultations, you will receive a secure link by SMS or email before your appointment. Click it to join the call. No app download is required for most platforms.

Step 3: Prepare for the Appointment

Find a private space where you can speak freely. Have your Medicare card number accessible, along with any relevant information about your concern: how long it has been going on, what makes it better or worse, what you have already tried. If you are discussing a skin concern, take a clear photograph with your phone beforehand so you can share it during the call.

If you are on medications, have a list ready. If you want to discuss recent test results, ask reception to confirm these are in your file before the appointment.

Step 4: Attend the Consultation

Your GP will call or connect via video at the scheduled time. The consultation is a genuine clinical assessment: your doctor will listen to your concern, ask follow-up questions, and provide advice or a management plan. At the end of the call, they will tell you what the next steps are: whether that is a prescription sent to your phone, a pathology request, a referral, or a follow-up in person if that turns out to be what is needed.

Step 5: Receive Your Prescription or Referral Electronically

If a prescription is issued, it comes as an electronic prescription (eScript) sent to your phone by SMS or email. You take the token to any pharmacy to have the medication dispensed. Referral letters and pathology requests can also be sent electronically. You do not need to collect a paper copy from the clinic for most services.

Disclaimer: Prescriptions issued via telehealth are subject to individual clinical assessment and are not guaranteed. Some medications require an in-person visit before they can be prescribed or renewed. Your GP will advise if this applies to your situation. Electronic prescriptions (eScripts) are issued in accordance with current Australian prescribing regulations. This article does not constitute prescribing advice.

Note: If your GP determines during the consultation that a face-to-face visit is necessary: for example, if a physical examination is needed to assess your concern properly: they will advise you and help schedule an in-person appointment. You will not be charged for an incomplete telehealth consultation in this situation.

What Telehealth Can and Cannot Handle

Telehealth is appropriate for a wide range of common GP presentations. It is not appropriate for everything. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right appointment type from the start.

Telehealth is well suited for…	Requires an in-person visit…
Follow-up appointments and repeat prescription requests	New presenting symptoms that have not been examined before
Mental health check-ins and MHTP preparation or reviews	Physical examination of chest, abdomen, joints, or ears
Chronic disease management check-ins	Wound care, injections, or minor procedures
Reviewing pathology results when no examination is needed	Cervical screening or physical women’s health checks
Medication reviews for stable, established conditions	Suspected fracture, acute injury, or significant new pain
Referral letters and specialist request forms	Blood pressure, ECG, or spirometry monitoring
Travel health advice and vaccination planning	Immediate or emergency presentations: always call 000
Skin concerns with clear photographs provided	Pre-employment, insurance, or licence medicals

If you are unsure which type of appointment your situation requires, call One Health Clinics Maroochydore on 1300 689 133. Reception can usually help you determine the right appointment type based on what you describe.

Is Telehealth Rebated at One Health Clinics Maroochydore?

Only in limited cases. A Medicare rebate applies to telehealth only where it is a follow-up and your first appointment was in-clinic within the last 12 months. Otherwise, telehealth is privately billed. For current consultation fees and the applicable rebates, see the clinic fees section.

A Medicare rebate for telehealth applies only as a follow-up to an in-clinic appointment within the last 12 months. In-clinic appointments attract a partial Medicare rebate for eligible patients, including:

Patients with a valid Medicare card
Children under 16 years of age
Holders of a Healthcare Card or Pensioner Concession Card
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders
DVA Gold and White Card holders for eligible services

As with in-person consultations, certain services not covered by Medicare may attract a fee. If you are unsure about your eligibility for a specific service, call the clinic on 1300 689 133 before your appointment and reception can confirm.

To learn more about our full range of services and to book in person, visit our GP clinic in Maroochydore page.

Note: A Medicare rebate for telehealth requires that you have attended the clinic in person within the past 12 months, or that you meet another eligibility criterion set by Medicare for remote telehealth. If you are new to One Health Clinics Maroochydore and have not yet had an in-person visit, speak to reception when booking: they will advise on your eligibility and whether an initial in-person appointment is required. For current telehealth eligibility requirements, visit Services Australia.

Disclaimer: Medicare telehealth eligibility rules, including the 12-month in-person attendance requirement, reflect policy at the time of publication and are subject to change. The information in this section is provided as a general guide only. Speak to the clinic or contact Services Australia directly to confirm what applies to your specific situation before booking. This article does not constitute Medicare advice.

Who Benefits Most from Telehealth on the Sunshine Coast?

Telehealth works well for a broad range of patients. There are some groups for whom the flexibility is particularly useful.

Working Adults and Shift Workers

Getting to a clinic during standard hours is not always possible when your schedule does not follow a Monday-to-Friday pattern. Telehealth makes it easier to fit a GP appointment around shift work, split rosters, or jobs that make it difficult to take time away during the day. You can attend a consultation from a car park, a break room, or anywhere with mobile reception.

Parents with Young Children

Arranging childcare for a clinic visit adds time and cost. Telehealth lets you attend a GP consultation from home while children are present, reducing the logistical barrier for parents who need medical attention but find in-person visits difficult to schedule.

Patients Managing Chronic Conditions

Many routine reviews for chronic conditions: checking in on diabetes management, reviewing blood pressure medication, discussing mental health treatment plans: do not require a physical examination. Telehealth allows patients with ongoing conditions to maintain regular GP contact without the inconvenience of repeated clinic visits for appointments that could equally take place over the phone.

Patients in Outer Sunshine Coast Suburbs

The Sunshine Coast extends well beyond Maroochydore. Patients in Noosa, Caloundra, Nambour, Buderim, Coolum, or communities further out may find the drive to a clinic time-consuming, particularly for routine follow-ups or prescription renewals. Telehealth removes the travel requirement entirely for eligible appointments.

Patients Who Feel Unwell but Do Not Require Emergency Care

If you are unwell but not in a situation that warrants a hospital visit, telehealth lets you speak to a GP without needing to leave home and sit in a waiting room. This is particularly relevant for infectious illnesses where attending a clinic in person risks exposing others: your GP can assess your situation, provide advice, and issue a prescription if needed, all without requiring you to come in.

Patients with Mobility Limitations

For patients whose health or mobility makes getting to a clinic difficult: whether due to pain, disability, post-surgical recovery, or another limiting factor: telehealth removes the barrier of physical access. All that is required is a phone or a device with internet access.

Telehealth for Common Presentations on the Sunshine Coast

Mental Health Consultations

Mental health consultations are well suited to telehealth. Your GP can assess your concerns, prepare or review a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), and refer you to a psychologist, all by phone or video. Many patients find it easier to discuss mental health concerns from the privacy of their own home rather than in a clinic setting. Both phone and video options are available.

Repeat Prescriptions

If you have an established prescription for a medication your GP has been managing, renewing it via telehealth is straightforward in most cases. Some medications require a physical review before they can be renewed: your GP will advise if this applies to your situation. If the prescription can be renewed by telehealth, it is issued as an eScript sent to your phone, and you can take it to any pharmacy.

Chronic Condition Reviews

For patients managing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or hypothyroidism, many routine review appointments can take place by telehealth. Your GP reviews your recent pathology results, assesses your current medications, and updates your care plan, all without requiring you to travel to the clinic. Where a physical examination or on-site monitoring is needed, your GP will advise and schedule an in-person visit.

Pathology Result Reviews

If you have had blood tests or other pathology done and your GP wants to discuss the results, a telehealth appointment is often all that is needed. Your results are in your file, your GP reviews them with you on the call, and any follow-up actions: medication changes, further investigations, specialist referrals: are arranged from there.

Sick Certificates

If you need a medical certificate for work or other purposes, your GP can issue one via telehealth following an assessment of your situation. You do not need to come in person for a certificate unless there is a clinical reason to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions: Telehealth GP Sunshine Coast

Do I need to have seen a GP at One Health Clinics Maroochydore before I can use telehealth?

A Medicare rebate for telehealth generally requires that you have attended the clinic in person within the past 12 months. If you are a new patient, call the clinic on 1300 689 133 to confirm your eligibility before booking a telehealth appointment. An initial in-person visit may be recommended.
Do I need a referral to book a telehealth GP appointment?

No. You can book directly online without a referral. Select Telehealth Consultation when booking.
How long is a telehealth appointment?

Standard telehealth consultations are 15 minutes. If your concern is likely to involve more than one issue, or if you are requesting a Mental Health Treatment Plan or similar care plan, book a long consultation (30 minutes) so your GP has adequate time. When booking online, you can see the available appointment lengths. For the fees that apply to each appointment length, see the clinic fees section.
What if I need a prescription from a telehealth appointment?

If your GP determines a prescription is appropriate, it is issued as an eScript sent to your phone by SMS. You can take this to any pharmacy in Australia to have the medication dispensed. No paper script or clinic visit is required to collect it.
Can I see any GP via telehealth, or only my usual doctor?

You can book with any GP who has telehealth availability at One Health Clinics Maroochydore. If you have a preferred GP, look for their available telehealth slots when booking. If they are not available, another GP in the practice can access your health record and provide continuity of care.
What if my concern turns out to need an in-person visit?

Your GP will advise you during the call if an in-person visit is necessary. They will help you schedule one. You will not be charged for an incomplete telehealth consultation in this situation.
Is telehealth available on weekends?

No. The clinic’s in-clinic and telehealth days differ, and the clinic is closed on weekends. Current opening hours, including which days are telehealth only, are listed on the clinic page. Check the online booking portal for current telehealth slots, as availability may vary by GP.
What if I experience a medical emergency?

Telehealth is not an emergency service. If you or someone around you is experiencing a medical emergency: chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injury, loss of consciousness, or another acute life-threatening condition: call 000 immediately. Do not wait for a telehealth appointment. If you are unsure whether your situation requires emergency care, visit healthdirect.gov.au.

Disclaimer: Telehealth is not an emergency service. If you or someone around you is experiencing a medical emergency, call 000 immediately. For health advice when you are unsure whether your situation is an emergency, contact healthdirect.gov.au on 1800 022 222 (24 hours, 7 days) to speak with a registered nurse.

Book a Telehealth GP Appointment on the Sunshine Coast

Whether you need a follow-up, a repeat prescription, a mental health consultation, or advice about a concern you have been putting off, telehealth makes it easy to see a GP without leaving home. Medicare rebates are available for eligible in-clinic patients.

Book online

Select Telehealth Consultation when booking, or call the clinic on 1300 689 133. The clinic is at Inside Wholelife, 32 Wises Rd Maroochydore QLD 4556. For current fees, see the clinic fees section.

Current opening hours, including which days are in-clinic and which are telehealth only, are listed below.

Mon:	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tue:	8:30am - 4:00pm
Wed - Fri:	8am - 4pm, Telehealth appointments only
Sat, Sun:	Closed