More than one million calls have been made to Australia’s 1800MEDICARE service since its launch in January, with nearly 60,000 callers receiving free virtual GP consultations and more than 170,000 reportedly diverted from emergency departments or calling Triple Zero.
The federal government’s $200 million-plus phone and digital health service provides 24-hour access to registered nurses who assess patients’ needs and refer them to appropriate care, including urgent care services and after-hours GP telehealth consultations.
New figures released by Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler show one in ten callers were referred to an urgent care service, while one in ten were classified as having been diverted from an emergency department or calling Triple Zero.
One in five callers were from rural and remote areas, while more than one in five were parents seeking advice about their children. A third of calls were made on weekends and public holidays.
NSW recorded the highest demand, with more than 471,000 calls, followed by Victoria with 352,000, Western Australia with 133,000 and South Australia with 116,000.
Tasmania and Queensland each recorded more than 31,000 calls, followed by the ACT with 25,000 and the Northern Territory with 8,000.
Mr Butler said the service was helping reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.
“1800MEDICARE has already had a significant impact on state and territory hospitals, with more than 170,000 people diverted from busy emergency departments or from calling Triple Zero,” he said.
“No matter the time of day or location, Australians can quickly get the expert advice they need to manage their health concerns.”
Launched nationally on 1 January 2026, 1800MEDICARE expanded and rebranded the existing Healthdirect service, adding access to free after-hours GP telehealth consultations.
The service is available through the 1800MEDICARE app, website and telephone line, with registered nurses providing initial assessments and connecting callers to other services when required.
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