Get a Repeat Specialist Referral Online
Need to see your specialist again but your referral has expired or you can’t get in to see your GP? Qoctor doctors can assess your request online and, if appropriate, issue a repeat specialist referral online so you can attend your specialist appointment without delay.
- AHPRA-registered Australian doctors
- Same-day service available- speak to a GP within minutes
- Download immediately and send to your specialist
Request your repeat specialist referral online now for $29.99.
Repeat Specialist Referral Online
- ✔Speak with an AHPRA registered doctor online
- ✔Fast service- Often available within 15 minutes
- ✔Referral issued instantly after your consultation
Get a Specialist Referral Online Without Visiting a GP
Many patients need a specialist referral online when they are returning to see a specialist but their previous referral has expired. This often happens when:
- your specialist appointment is coming up soon
- your previous referral is more than 12 months old
- your GP is fully booked or unavailable
- you forgot to renew your referral before the appointment
Qoctor provides a fast, convenient online specialist referral service where a doctor can review your request and, if appropriate, issue a referral for your specialist appointment immediately. This can help patients avoid delays or the need to reschedule specialist appointments.
However, if you need to see a specialist for the first time, book an online GP appointment instead HERE.
What is a Repeat Specialist Referral?
A repeat specialist referral is a referral from a GP to a specialist you have seen before. In many cases, specialist referrals expire after 12 months, so patients need a new referral before their next appointment. Getting a specialist referral online can be a convenient option when you are due to see your specialist again and can’t easily get in to see your usual GP. It can also reduce the cost of your specialist appointment, as it allows access to Medicare rebates.
Patients commonly need a repeat referral when they are continuing care with a specialist such as:
- dermatologists
- psychiatrists
- endocrinologists
- gastroenterologists
- cardiologists
- neurologists
- orthopaedic surgeons
- rheumatologists and many more…
If your previous referral has expired, getting a specialist referral online can be a convenient option.
Why Patients get an Online Specialist Referral
Getting a doctor referral online can be helpful in several situations:
- When your GP is fully booked– many clinics have long wait times for appointments. An online specialist referral can provide a quicker option when you need a referral before an upcoming appointment.
- When your referral has expired- Specialist referrals are commonly valid for 12 months. If your referral has expired, you may need a new referral before your next visit.
- When your specialist appointment is soon- Some patients only realise their referral has expired shortly before their appointment. A specialist referral online can help avoid rescheduling.
- When you want the convenience of telehealth- Requesting a referral online means you can complete the process from home without visiting a clinic.
- When you need a fast, affordable option- with Qoctor, a referral can usually be arranged in minutes, with consultations costing $29.99.
Forgot Your Referral Before Your Specialist Appointment?
This situation happens frequently. Patients often arrive at their specialist appointment and realise their referral has expired. In many cases, a specialist may request a valid referral for Medicare billing. Qoctor can provide patients with a specialist referral online quickly. If appropriate, the referral can then be downloaded or sent to the specialist.
How to Get a Specialist Referral Online
Getting a specialist referral online with Qoctor is simple.
- Complete a short online assessment.
- An Australian registered doctor discusses your request via phone or video call.
- If appropriate, your specialist referral is issued.
The referral can then be:
- downloaded
- printed
- emailed to your specialist
Consultations from $29.99
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a specialist referral online in Australia?
Yes. An Australian registered doctor can assess your request via telehealth and, if appropriate, issue a specialist referral online. The consultation should involve a real-time discussion with the doctor, usually by phone or video. Automated or text-only consultations are generally not considered adequate under Australian medical telehealth guidelines.
Can I get a repeat specialist referral online?
Yes. This service is commonly used when patients are returning to see a specialist they have previously seen and their referral has expired. A doctor can review your situation via telehealth and, if appropriate, issue a repeat specialist referral online so you can attend your upcoming appointment.
How long does it take to get a referral?
Qoctor offers same-day specialist referral appointments, with consultations often available within 15 minutes.
In most cases, if the doctor determines that a referral is appropriate, the referral can be issued instantly, after the consultation.
How much does it cost to get a specialist referral online from Qoctor?
Qoctor’s specialist repeat referral appointments cost $29.99, with consultations often available within 15 minutes if you select the priority booking option.
Will my referral be sent to my specialist?
Yes. If a referral is issued, you can download it immediately and forward it to your specialist. If you would like the referral sent directly to your specialist, our support team can assist. Simply contact us through live chat (8AM to midnight daily) , and we will be happy to help.
Can my regular GP be informed?
Yes. If you have a regular GP you can provide their details, so they stay informed of your care and will be copied into any correspondence issued by the specialist.
Do specialist referral letters expire?
Yes — in many cases specialist referrals expire after 12 months. If your referral has expired, your specialist may require a new referral before your appointment. A valid referral may also be required for Medicare rebates when seeing a specialist. If your referral has expired and you are returning to see the same specialist, a repeat specialist referral online may be an option.
Do I need a referral every time I see a specialist?
No — a referral issued by a GP or reputable online doctor service such as Qoctor, will generally cover you for 12 months. So, any specialist visits occurring within that timeframe can generally be included under the initial referral. However, if your referral was issued by another specialist (i.e. a specialist to specialist referral), it is important to note that these only last for 3 months. Also, if you develop a NEW health problem, you will typically need an updated referral from a GP to allow the specialist to assess you for the second issue.
What is an “indefinite” referral?
Occasionally, a GP may issue an “indefinite” referral to a specialist. This may be considered for a long-standing or chronic condition, where regular specialist visits are unavoidable. However, this option is not that commonly used, given that most people’s requirements to see a specialist fluctuate and change over time.
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 telehealth appointment to discuss a repeat specialist referral letter with Qoctor costs $25.99. 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 $25.99. 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 to get an appointment with Qoctor from 8AM to 12AM AEST on weekdays and 8AM to 10PM on weekends. 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 8AM to 12AM AEST on weekdays and 8AM to 10PM on weekends. 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 $25.99. 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 $25.99. 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 $25.99. 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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