Access an online emergency doctor

Online urgent medical care

My Emergency Doctor (MED) is an independent service to St John of God Health Care.

MED provides a service for patients with an urgent health issue.

If you are unwell, have an urgent medical issue, and are thinking about attending an emergency department or your regular doctor is unavailable, then MED can support you to receive medical advice and treatment.

Cost

The cost to use MED is $220 (Medicare and private health insurance do not currently fund this service). 

If you have private health insurance and your condition can be treated at St John of God Bunbury Hospital, please request a refund of your MED fee directly from the hospital.

Please note the $220 fee is payable to My Emergency Doctor and grants you, the caller, direct access to a specialist emergency physician. If the consultation results in a direct admission to St John of God Bunbury Hospital, the $220 will be refunded by St John of God Bunbury Hospital as part of your admission process. The MED team are unable to provide a refund to you. The refund will only be provided by the hospital if you are admitted as an inpatient. 

Important note: If your specialist consultation does not result in an admission to St John of God Bunbury Hospital, the cost of the consultation will not be refunded. If you are admitted to another hospital, St John of God Hospital will be unable to refund you the $220 fee of using the My Emergency Doctor service. 

How to access urgent medical care

You have two ways to contact My Emergency Doctor, you can select a video call or a telephone call. Make your choice below.

Video call

Access MED’s emergency doctors via your computer or device.

Telephone

Call 1800 886 885 to speak with MED’s emergency doctors. 

My Emergency Doctor (MED) is an independent service to St John of God Health Care.

You can use MED to obtain medical advice and treatment from the comfort of your own home, including:

• referrals to medical specialists
• referrals to allied health professionals
• referrals to medical imaging and pathology.

This service is available for people aged 18 years and over. For children and under 18s please call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department or urgent care clinic.

When to call 000

If a patient is suffering a time-critical emergency and/or is unconscious, has chest pain, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe abdominal pain or has been in a major accident, please dial 000 immediately.

When to call My Emergency Doctor

If you or someone you know, over the age of 18, experience unexpected symptoms or need care for urgent, non-life-threatening illness or injury, it can be difficult to know who to call. This service is specifically for times when you are thinking of attending the Emergency Department but feel unsure, or when your regular GP is unable to assist, for example after-hours. 

Some examples of reasons you may decide to call or connect with MED in non-life threatening situations include:

• flu/fever/sore throat/cough
• diarrhoea and vomiting
• diabetic blood sugar control
• frequency/pain when going the toilet/constipation
• rashes, bites and stings
• redness and swelling of upper or lower limb (leg or arm)
• shortness of breath
• back pain
• dizziness
• asthma management
• difficulty eating/weight loss
• symptom management after chemotherapy

With this type of service, you can:

1. Get immediate advice: on a concern about an injury, illness, or general health advice. Speaking to a senior emergency doctor can help you make informed decisions about whether you need to seek in-person care.
2. Avoid long wait times: Instead of waiting in an emergency department or urgent care clinic for a consultation, you can get timely advice without leaving home.
3. Private hospital admission: If you have private health insurance and need admission to hospital, you can be referred directly to St John of God Bunbury Hospital.
4. Follow up: If your situation doesn’t improve, you can reach out again for further guidance.
5. Manage minor emergencies: For things like minor cuts, sprains, or less severe symptoms that could be handled at home, your emergency doctor can walk you through self-care steps or recommend over-the-counter treatments.
6. Referrals and prescriptions: In some cases, doctors can prescribe medications or refer you to the appropriate in-person care if needed.

What if I need admission to hospital?

If MED’s doctors believe you need admission to hospital they can refer you directly to St John of God Bunbury Hospital if:

• the admission is approved by a St John of God Bunbury Hospital clinician; and
• you have private health insurance.