Healthdirect Australia

Healthdirect
TypeGovernment-owned company
IndustryHealth care
Founded2006 (2006)
HeadquartersHaymarket, New South Wales
Area served
Australia
OwnerCommonwealth and state and territory governments
Websitewww.healthdirect.gov.au

Healthdirect Australia, otherwise known as just Healthdirect and formerly the National Health Call Centre Network, is the national health advice service in Australia.[1] Funded by the Australian Government and all state and territory governments, Healthdirect provides a number of 24/7 health helplines to all Australians.[2]

The Healthdirect website provides general health advice, a symptom checker which compares symptoms against clinical presentations, and a health directory which lists many primary, secondary and tertiary care services.[3]

History

In February 2006, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signed a Heads of Agreement to establish the National Health Call Centre Network (NHCCN). The NHCCN commenced delivering services in July 2007, with its core service operating under a single national name, Healthdirect Australia, and national phone number – 1800 022 222. In December 2012, the NHCCN changed its trading name to Healthdirect Australia, reflecting the organisation’s evolution from procuring and managing telephone triage services[4] to offering multiple services with integrated telephone and online channels. This was followed in November 2015 by the change of the registered name to Healthdirect Australia Limited. After a review of after-hours primary health care in July 2015, Healthdirect Australia began to operate locally tailored after-hours services and new GP advice and support lines.[5] From March 2020 until December 2023 Healthdirect was operating the National Coronavirus Helpline (NCH) providing telephone advice to the public. It handled more than four million calls.[6] From January 2026, healthdirect has been providing 1800MEDICARE (1800 633 422) service. This service offers a free, 24/7 helpline where a consumer can speak to a registered nurse about any health concern. The nurse will provide advice on the next step and can offer an after hours telehealth consultation with a GP. [7] [8]

Services

Healthdirect Australia's services include a helpline available 24 hours a day,[9] an after-hours general practitioner (GP) helpline,[10][11] the healthdirect website (which provides free health information)[12][13] and a Symptom Checker (a guided, online self-triage tool allowing visitors to initiate their health enquiry online).[14][15] The Pregnancy, Birth and Baby service includes a telephone helpline and a website, providing support to families of children aged up to 5 years.[16][17] Healthdirect services also include the National Health Services Directory (NHSD)[18] and Video Call service.[19][20][21]

Decommissioned Services

COVID-19 services and tools in response to the pandemic were launched in 2020 and decommissioned in 2024 having reached end of life and end of use.[22][23][24]

In September 2019, Healthdirect and The George Institute for Global Health launched a free online Risk Checker, an online evaluation tool to help Australian consumers check their risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease.[25][26] The Risk Checker was taken offline in late 2024 due to a lack of maintained currency with health guidelines and low user rates.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Australian Government Directory by Portfolio - Healthdirect Australia". www.australia.gov.au. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Sprivulis, P; Carey, M; Rouse, I (February 2004). "Compliance with advice and appropriateness of emergency presentation following contact with the HealthDirect telephone triage service". Emergency Medicine Australasia. 16 (1): 35–40. doi:10.1111/j.1742-6723.2004.00538.x. PMID 15239753.
  3. ↑ Ng, Joseph Y.; Fatovich, Daniel M.; Turner, Valender F.; Wurmel, Jennifer A.; Skevington, Sally A.; Philipps, Michael R. (November 2012). "Appropriateness of healthdirect referrals to the emergency department compared with self-referrals and GP referrals". Medical Journal of Australia. 197 (9): 498–502. doi:10.5694/mja12.10689. PMID 23121585. S2CID 9916006.
  4. ↑ Dunt, David; Wilson, Robert; Day, Susan E.; Keleher, Margaret; Gurrin, Lyle (October 2007). "Impact of telephone triage on emergency after hours GP Medicare usage: a time-series analysis". Australia and New Zealand Health Policy. 4: 21. doi:10.1186/1743-8462-4-21. PMC 2151763. PMID 17927836.
  5. ↑ Savira, Feby; Burns, Kara; Kalla, Mahima; Dushyanthen, Sathana (8 November 2022). "It's after-hours and I need to see a doctor. What are my options?". The Conversation. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ↑ McDonald, Kate (23 February 2022). "Digital Health Institute Summit 2022: How Healthdirect stood up the NCH in just two weeks". Pulse+IT. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  7. ↑ Savira, Feby; Burns, Kara; Kalla, Mahima; Dushyanthen, Sathana (25 May 2026). "Need a doctor or nurse after hours? How to get virtual or in-person care in Australia – including for free". The Conversation. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "New 1800MEDICARE offers free, 24/7 health advice anywhere in Australia". Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 2 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Lord, Bill (1 August 2018). "When is it OK to call an ambulance?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  10. ↑ Your Health (26 August 2011). "After-hours GP Helpline Now Available". Your Health. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Georgiou, Andrew; Li, Ling; Xiong, Juan; Byrne, Mary; Robinson, Maureen; Westbrook, Johanna (2016). "Healthdirect's After Hours GP helpline – a survey of patient satisfaction with the service and compliance with advice" (PDF). Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. 227 (Digital Health Innovation for Consumers, Clinicians, Connectivity and Community): 87–92. doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-666-8-87. PMID 27440294. Retrieved 28 July 2017 – via PubMed.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Sophie; Willis, Karen; Franklin, Marika (12 February 2014). "Don't panic! Healthy consumers look online for medical advice". The Conversation. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  13. ↑ Healy, Judith (2017), "Patients as regulatory actors in their own health care", in Drahos, Peter (ed.), Regulatory Theory, Foundations and applications, ANU Press, pp. 591–610, ISBN 978-1-76046-101-0, retrieved 9 January 2025
  14. ↑ Browne, Kate. "Beyond Doctor Google". Choice. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Tang, Clarice (10 February 2022). "At home with COVID? 5 easy tips to help you breathe more easily". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  16. ↑ Nurse and Midwife Support. "Pregnancy, Birth and Baby". Nurse and Midwife Support. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  17. ↑ Scott, Karen. "Looking online for info on your child's health? Here are some tips". The Conversation. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  18. ↑ McDonald, Kate (21 February 2024). "NHSD, Path Tests Explained integrated with ADHA's my health app". Pulse+IT. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Browning, Jen (28 June 2019). "Telehealth saves lives and time on the road in NSW". ABC News. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "Healthdirect Australia partners with Coviu to power its video consulting service". Healthcare IT News. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  21. ↑ "Healthdirect Video Call sees highest-ever monthly volumes". Pulse+IT. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Seselja, ABC: Edwina (6 July 2021). "Feeling unwell? Here are the symptoms of COVID-19 and when to get tested". ABC News. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  23. ↑ Wood, Nicholas; Britton, Philip (24 June 2020). "Coronavirus or just a common cold? What to do when your child gets sick this winter". The Conversation. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Heath, Nicola (2 February 2022). "How to help a friend or relative with COVID". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  25. ↑ O'Mallon, Finbar (17 September 2019). "New test for nation's 'biggest killers'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  26. ↑ "New risk checker helps Australians tackle preventable diseases". The New Daily. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
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