Telehealth consultations: What do you think?

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

Since COVID-19 there has been a big change to the availability of telehealth for many medical consultations. These changes are temporary to allow more people to get the health care they need without leaving home.

What do you as patients and carers think about the changes? What has been working well? What could be improved and - importantly - do you want these telehealth options to be made permanent? You may also have suggestions for how to make telehealth more effective for yourself and your loved ones?

Jump below to either:

Please share this page with your networks! Share the link https://amplify.hcnsw.org.au/telehealth-consultations or use the social share buttons above the image.

Definition: telehealth consultations are phone or video consultations between patients and GPs, nurses, outpatient clinics, allied health providers and psychological services.

(To find out more about the temporary telehealth measures, visit the Australian Department of Health Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Factsheet.)

Since COVID-19 there has been a big change to the availability of telehealth for many medical consultations. These changes are temporary to allow more people to get the health care they need without leaving home.

What do you as patients and carers think about the changes? What has been working well? What could be improved and - importantly - do you want these telehealth options to be made permanent? You may also have suggestions for how to make telehealth more effective for yourself and your loved ones?

Jump below to either:

Please share this page with your networks! Share the link https://amplify.hcnsw.org.au/telehealth-consultations or use the social share buttons above the image.

Definition: telehealth consultations are phone or video consultations between patients and GPs, nurses, outpatient clinics, allied health providers and psychological services.

(To find out more about the temporary telehealth measures, visit the Australian Department of Health Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Factsheet.)

Have you had an experience with telehealth you'd like to share?

We are keen to hear what you have to say about telehealth consultations:

- About when it worked well, or didn't work so well for you.

- Or were you unable to access telehealth when you wanted to? 

- Or you didn't want a telehealth consultation but had no other option available to you?

(We are referring to phone or video consultations between patients and GPs, nurses, outpatient clinics, allied health providers and psychological services. If you aren't from NSW that's OK, maybe tell us what state you are from?)

Following a check by our friendly moderation team your story will be published here. It will help us develop our response to the Federal Department of Health about the future of telehealth consultations.

Please note: if your story includes any serious complaints that you would like to see resolved, we highly recommend posting it on Care Opinion (www.careopinion.org.au) as the service will be alerted. Just mention 'telehealth' in your story and we will see it when we review the latest published stories on Care Opinion.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

Following a check by our friendly moderation team your story will be published here. It will help us develop our response to the Federal Department of Health about the future of telehealth consultations.

We may publish your story without personally identifying information (anonymously) in any publication arising from this work.

Kind regards, 

The Amplify Team

loader image
Forgot password?
Didn't receive confirmation?
Register Now
Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
Cancel
  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Saved me sitting in a hospital for 8 hours

    by Michelle , 6 months ago

    If we had not have had tele health, when after 18 months finally getting an appointment in the pain management clinic to see if i qualified for it, i would have had to go and sit in a hospital with revolving appointments for a day. In the letter they said felm 9am-5pm. This would have provided issues not just due to my disability but would also have meant I would not have been able to meet my parental commitments to my young children.

    Because of telehealth I was able to schedule the first appointment to start minutes after school drop... Continue reading

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Great way to discuss ongoing issues and hear results

    by RMfeedback, 6 months ago

    My doctor is monitoring my bloodwork and it was much easier to have her phone me to confirm that a script would be waiting and then subsequently to advise the test results and next steps. It saved me time and was reasonably seamless.

    It could be improved by having integrated calendar systems that confirm the appointment via SMS and add a calendar appointment, then have the team follow up 15 minutes or 5 minutes before to advise if the doctor is on time or a little late.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Telehealth and Script Renewals

    by MM, 6 months ago

    My husband has multiple health issues for which he needs prescriptions. He is also in a wheelchair. Being able to get renewals over the phone is wonderful and quick. The appointments are easy to make and the dr's call is usually close to the designated timeslot.


  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Pricing of Telehealth Consultations Should Be Transparent

    by Ardsleym, 6 months ago

    I was under the impression that the Telehealth consultations were to be gratis.

    I had my first consultation with a specialist from St Vincent's Clinic on 22/4. I found that I could communicate my problem easily and he listened well. I was very satisfied with the consultation. Later I asked the specialist for another consultation because I needed help in interpreting the results of my brain MRI and the Mayo Clinic article on some of what was covered in the report frightened me. I was also pleased with that second consultation on 27 May.

    On 13 July I had an... Continue reading

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Wound care by phone

    by Ann, 6 months ago

    My husband picked up an untraceable bug while recovering from major surgery and after some foraging stays in hospital which was over an hour's drive away, came home to recuperate. The bug found it's way out and became a wound which I had to learn to dress with direction over the phone. I could send weekly photos when I was worried it was getting worse and they could make judgements as to whether we needed to come in, get antibiotics or wait it out. This went on for 8 months so we all became very connected and treatment was immediate... Continue reading

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Great for follow up and chronic conditions

    by Kelly, 6 months ago

    Telehealth has been wonderful for me as I have multiple ongoing specialist reviews for a previous illness. My long term GP and specialists are all in Sydney while I live on the central coast. Being able to deal with some of these appointments by phone with local pathology has saved me taking the whole day off work to attend.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Eye contact still important

    6 months ago

    It’s generally quicker as no waiting room time though I prefer eye contact and perhaps an intuitive doctor would too

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Telehealth is a great solution

    by Mandy , 6 months ago

    Ongoing discussion on a long term iron deficiency and strategizing steps to manage it. Telehealth meeting (3) was great. Don’t have to leave work to attend, very useful.

    Recently I had a gastric bug which I couldn’t shake . Too sick to go to doctor, telehealth consultation excellent alternative to dragging my infected body to the surgery. Follow up call later in week to try a different strategy, situation now resolving

    These conferences are great and so efficient if you are time poor and “know what you’ve got” or just need to start down the path of investigations. There are... Continue reading