Your GP

Expert advice
when it matters most

Now’s the time to remind patients that expert advice matters

As a GP, your expert advice is more important now than it’s ever been. But the current pandemic means some patients are avoiding visiting their usual GP, while others may be unsure about how, or where, to consult you.

Patients need to be reassured that you’re still available to give advice on all health matters, in a safe and easy way. So we’re letting patients across Australia know that:

they can talk to their usual GP about their health concerns (including those unrelated to COVID-19)
telephone and video (telehealth) appointments are available to everyone. Some consultations will need to be bulk billed, while others are billed just like a normal face-to-face appointment
in-person appointments are still available, and can be attended safely.

The Expert Advice Matters campaign

The RACGP has launched a TV and online campaign that reinforces the value of consulting a GP for expert advice. We want patients to know they should continue to consult their GP for any health matter, and that doing so is safe and easy.

You’ll see the campaign on national television including Channel Nine and Sky News Australia, and Channel 10 in regional areas. It will also be advertised across online social channels such as Facebook and Instagram.

Viewers will be directed to expertadvicematters.com.au for further information on how to easily and safely consult their GP during the pandemic.

Visit the website

Sharing the message with your community

The Expert Advice Matters campaign encourages the public to continue consulting their regular GP.

You can help share the message and ensure your patients know how they can reach you by posting the campaign details on your own practice website and social media channels.

We’ve created some resources to help you do this, including banners to put at the bottom of your emails, website tiles and social media posts. Share the campaign by:

including notifications on your practice website
mentioning it in your voicemail/call-waiting messages.

Some patients may be unfamiliar with these new types of appointments and may need guidance from you on how to participate and what equipment they might need, so consider what messages you share with your community and how your administration team responds to their queries.

View resources

Let's show that expert advice matters

We want to give our GPs the opportunity to showcase how they’re adapting to support their patients through this time.

To complement the advertising campaign and remind the public about other health issues, such as the importance of flu vaccinations, we are running a social media campaign and need your input.

We would like you to film a 30 second ‘selfie’ style video that will communicate to the Australian community that GPs are open for business.

The video will remind the community that GPs are open, are adapting to the requirements to deliver patient care in a new way and are importantly still here to provide expert advice when it matters most.

How to get involved

FAQs

How do I set up my practice for telephone and video consultations?

You can find lots of helpful information on our telehealth page, including the Guide to providing telephone and video consultations in general practice which outlines the clinical, administrative and technical considerations for practices introducing this mode of healthcare delivery for the first time.

Useful flowcharts outlining practical steps for setting up your practice for telehealth consultations are also available.

For even more guidance, you can watch the webinar Phone and video consultations: a how-to presentation.

How can I ensure my patients know they can book a telehealth consultation?

Key actions include updating your practice website and on-hold messages, and sharing the Having a phone or video consultation with your regular GP: Information and support for patients fact sheet.

How do I bill for telehealth consultations?

You can find information on the new billing items for COVID-19 telehealth services on our website, which outlines the bulk-billing requirements and an overview of item numbers and their descriptors.

If I’m still delivering in-person consultations, where can I find information on using personal protective equipment (PPE)?

If you have patients present for an in-person consultation with COVID-19 symptoms, you need to make sure you protect yourself. You can find information on the correct use of PPE on our website, including instructional videos.