Whether you are trying to book in to see your regular GP or trying to find a practitioner with an
appointment immediately available, online booking services let you view available appointments in your
chosen area in real time and make a booking ASAP.
As with any online service, be wary about sharing your information. In 2018 it came to light that one of
these providers had shared users’ information with personal injury law firms and other third parties and
faced multi-million dollar fines for this. Therefore, be careful of what you reveal when you book your
appointment, and only share what is strictly necessary to make the booking. And always read the terms
and conditions before you agree to them.
Below we discuss a few of the popular online health appointment booking sites.
HealthEngine
The Health Engine website and app (iOS/Android) let you view in real time the available appointments
with participating GPs, dentists, physios and more across Australia, and then make a booking. You can
also search for a known practitioner, practice, or procedure or find a practitioner closest to you by putting
in your location. You can book in-person or Telehealth consults.
When you near your location, it lists available clinicians, appointment times, the address, patient reviews,
and whether bulk billing is available. When you click on the clinic/ clinician, it provides you more details
such as:
- Languages spoken
- Pricing
- Contact information
- Directions and parking information, and
- Medical focuses of that clinic/clinician.
Privacy: See privacy and security policy click here. To note, in 2019, HealthEngine, faced multi-million-
dollar fines for selling patient data. However, in their most recent privacy policy, they state they do not sell
patient data to third parties. To have your account and personal information deleted, you must send a
request to the HealthEngine Privacy Officer at privacyofficer@healthengine.com.au.
Cost: The service is free, but it does send direct marketing communications including mail, telephone
calls, SMS or email to customers who register for the service. You can choose to opt-out of this.
Medinet
Medinet (docbook.com.au) is another website that lets patients browse practices, search by location and make
an appointment with a GP. The service is available in NSW, Victoria, WA, SA and Queensland. The
choice of participating surgeries is fairly limited.
When you type in a location, the list of nearby practices appears. It provides you the address, phone
number, and website of the practice as well as any associated costs associated with the appointment or
clinic.
Privacy: See their privacy policy here.
Cost: Free
myhealth1st
Myhealth1st is a website that allows you to search by appointment type, provider, or location in every
State. It includes appointments of a number of different health professions, such as dentists,
physiotherapists, psychiatrists and doctors. It also includes an option to only
search for appointments offered via Telehealth.
When you search for an available appointment, nearby clinics pop up with available practitioners and their
available appointment times.
Privacy: Find their privacy policy here.
Cost: Free
DoctorsonDemand
DoctorsonDemand is an online or app consultation service. Can book appointments with doctors,
psychologists, and dietitians. You need to register on the platform to book an appointment. Registering is
free and requires you to answer some general medical questions, just like any other medical centre. When
searching for an appointment, you can read each doctor’s bio and rating.
Privacy: They state Doctors on Demand does not store any medical information on this site. Your medical
records are recorded and kept by your consulting doctor.
Cost: Bulk billed or privately with a Medicare rebates depending on the service.
HotDoc
The HotDoc website and app (iOS/Android) lets you view in real time the available appointments with
participating GPs and then make a booking. You can search by provider name or by your suburb/ postcode
to find a doctor near you.
The HotDoc app will provide you reminders of your upcoming appointment through the app and via text message. If you
booked a telehealth appointment, Hot Docs Telehealth video waiting room shows your place in the queue.
For a description on patient experiences with HotDoc and how to use the app/website click here.
Cost: Free.
Privacy: You can find their policy here. You can opt out of having your Personal Information collected
or for it to be de-identified. This may prevent you from accessing all of the services and may terminate
your access to some or all of the services, including via the Platform. To opt out, you can email:
privacy@hotdoc.com.au
National Home Doctor
The National Home Doctor Service (13SICK) provides urgent after-hours medical care to patients at home
in most capital cities. You can book online, via the app or website, or phone (13 SICK 7435). The service
offers bulk billing for all Medicare users and Gold DVA cardholders.
You can book via phone (13 74 25) or via the app (iOS/Android).