New Englanders would have access to round-the-clock health advice and an after-hours GP telehealth service under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government, with a commitment to launch the new 1800MEDICARE service from 1 January 2026.
Labor has pledged $204.5 million to expand and improve existing Healthdirect services, providing a consistent national health advice line and after-hours GP telehealth service to all Australians. The initiative aims to ensure that quality healthcare is available beyond traditional office hours.
“Life isn’t 9 to 5. With 1800MEDICARE, neither is health care,” Labor Candidate for Parkes Nathan Fell said.
The service is designed to complement Labor’s plan to open 50 additional Medicare Urgent Care Clinics nationwide, with a goal of ensuring that four in five Australians are within a 20-minute drive of free urgent care. 1800MEDICARE would provide additional support, offering phone-based healthcare advice for all Australians, regardless of location.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the new service would close a significant gap in the health system.
“When illness or injury strikes in your family, 1800MEDICARE will be there – a 24/7 health advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service, backed by Medicare,” Mr Butler said.
“With Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and 1800MEDICARE, free urgent care will be a 20-minute drive away for 4 in 5 Australians, and a phone call away for every Australian.”
Mr Butler added that the service could prevent around 250,000 unnecessary visits to hospital emergency departments annually.
Under the plan, registered nurses would be available 24/7 to provide expert advice and refer callers to the appropriate health service, whether that be a GP, hospital, or urgent care clinic. If urgent GP care is required and a regular GP is unavailable, the service would offer free telehealth sessions with GPs after hours, between 6pm and 8am on weeknights and throughout weekends.
The initiative promises to allow residents to receive medical treatment, such as emergency prescriptions or care for minor illnesses and injuries, from their own homes via phone or video call.
Candidate for New England, Laura Hughes, welcomed the commitment, saying it would strengthen Medicare for local communities.
“Labor is strengthening Medicare to make sure every Australian in New England has access to high quality health care no matter what time of the day it is,” Ms Hughes said.
“Only a Labor Government will deliver stronger Medicare for the local community in and around New England with more bulk billing and more free urgent care.”
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Danielle McMullen, cautiously supported the plan, emphasising that integration with existing GP services would be critical.
“This service has to be part of an integrated GP-led model of primary care, otherwise it runs the danger of undermining the role of the patient’s usual GP and fragmenting care,” Dr McMullen said.
“1800 Medicare should not be seen as a substitute for care by a patient’s usual GP and wherever possible should link patients back to their usual GP or if that is not possible, other local GPs.”
Dr McMullen said strong communication between 1800MEDICARE and patients’ regular GPs would be essential, with timely clinical handover processes required.
She also called for appropriate support and involvement of GPs in the program’s design and implementation, and stressed the importance of properly evaluating the service.
“While these services can be a useful part of an integrated GP out-of-hours service model, it is not a substitute for accessing high quality GP after-hours services,” Dr McMullen said.
Follow all the New England Times coverage of the federal election here or have your say on Engage
See more about the race in New England here
See more about the race in Parkes here