Instant Consult

Instant Consult: Video Call Medical Consultations in Australia

Instant Consult is an Australian telehealth platform that allows patients to access medical consultations via video call with doctors registered in Australia. The service operates every day of the year, from 6:00 to 00:00 (AEST), including public holidays, and is available through a mobile app or from a web browser. The company was established on 1 June 2018 and, according to its own presentation, has not interrupted the service since then.

The consultation costs from 45 Australian dollars and, for patients under 12 months of age, it is bulk-billed. The average wait time to connect with a doctor is under 15 minutes.

Available Medical Services

Instant Consult doctors are authorised to issue medical documents and requests that are sent directly to the patient's phone through the app. Services offered by the platform include:

• Medical certificates and carer's certificates to justify absences from work or school.
• Electronic prescriptions (eTokens), both new and repeat, when clinically appropriate, for use at pharmacies across Australia.
• Specialist referrals, such as to dermatologists or psychiatrists, sent to the app's inbox.
• Pathology test requests, including complete blood counts, STI/STD tests and cardiovascular risk assessments, to be carried out at collection centres in Australia.
• Radiology requests, such as X-rays or mammograms, to be presented at the imaging provider chosen by the patient.
• General health consultations, addressing both acute and chronic conditions, including dermatological concerns, mental health and lifestyle-related illnesses.

Medical Team and Quality Standards

All doctors on the platform are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), as required by the Medical Board of Australia, and are insured and experienced. Instant Consult states that it operates in accordance with the standards of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

The company has a Medical Advisory Board made up of leading professionals who oversee the quality of medical guidance for a team of more than 100 doctors. Members of this board include Medical Director Julian Lee (Brighton East, VIC), Fiona McKinnon (Ingham, QLD), Peter Scott (Rangeville, QLD), Janelle Hall (Merrylands, NSW), Colin Coward (South Fremantle, WA), Bani Kaur (Nunawading, VIC) and Aadhil Aziz (Heidelberg, VIC).

How the Service Works

Accessing consultations requires downloading the Instant Consult app, available on the Australian App Store for iPhone, iPad and Android, or logging in from a Chrome or Safari browser on tablets, laptops or desktop computers. The device must have a camera, speakers and a WiFi or mobile data connection. Once the details are registered, the patient requests a consultation and connects via video call with the first available doctor.

The platform uses 256-bit SSL certificates for authentication and data encryption. All medical documents are managed electronically and remain available in the app's inbox. At the end of the consultation, the patient can rate and review the doctor's service.

Presence and Customer Service

Instant Consult offers phone support across Australia and email support. The support team is available from 6:00 to 00:00 (AEST), seven days a week, while the head office is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (AEST), Monday to Friday. The company also publishes informative content about health and telehealth on its blog.

Location and Contact

143 Sylvan Road, Toowong QLD 4066 · Phone: 1300 003 310 · Email: support@instantconsult.com.au · Hours: Head office: 9:00-17:00 AEST, Monday to Friday. Support: 6:00-00:00 AEST, 7 days a week.