How to book an appointment

How to book an appointment with Abby Health

To learn how to book an appointment with Abby Health, open the app or visit abbyhealth.app, tap Book an appointment, choose a Scheduled time with a specific clinician or join the First Available queue, and confirm. Most patients can be seen the same day. The clinician you meet will be an AHPRA-registered Specialist GP or Nurse Practitioner from our care network. The system shows whether the consult is bulk billed before you confirm.

What do I need before I book?

You need an Abby account with your Medicare card on file (for bulk billing) and a few minutes to describe what you need. The reason for the visit shapes the kind of appointment we offer — a quick certificate is different from a longer mental-health conversation, even though both are bulk-billed Medicare appointments.

Have a think about:

• What you want to discuss (symptoms, a script renewal, a referral, a check-in).
• How urgent it is.
• Whether you would prefer a specific clinician you have seen before.

How does Scheduled vs First Available work?

Two different rhythms. Both are bulk billed for eligible patients.

• Scheduled appointments let you book a specific clinician at a specific time. This is the option to choose when you want continuity of care, when the visit is more sensitive, or when the issue is ongoing. About 71% of Abby patients rebook with the same doctor — Scheduled is how that continuity gets built. Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026.
• First Available (FA) is our on-demand queue, capped at 15 patients. You will see the next clinician who is free. It is best for simple, transactional requests — a medical certificate, a script renewal, a quick question. The queue moves quickly when it is open.

If you are unsure which to pick, the rule of thumb: Scheduled for anything ongoing or emotionally weighty, First Available when the request is straightforward and you want it done today. The breakdown is in booking a telehealth appointment.

What does the booking flow look like, step by step?

1. Open the Abby Health app and sign in.
2. Tap Book an appointment.
3. Tell us what you would like help with — type it in your own words. Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, surfaces relevant context so the clinician arrives prepared, and helps route you to the right appointment type.
4. Choose Scheduled or First Available.
5. Pick a clinician and time, or join the queue.
6. Confirm. The billing screen shows whether the consult is bulk billed (most are) before you tap Book.

You will get an SMS and email reminder before the appointment, with a secure link to join.

How do I prepare for the consultation?

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners notes that prepared patients tend to get more out of every consultation. The RACGP recommends jotting down what you want to discuss before any appointment.

• Find a quiet, private spot with a stable internet connection.
• Have your phone charged or keep your laptop plugged in.
• Write down 2-3 things you would like to cover — start with the most important.
• Have any current medications, recent test results, or photos of skin issues to hand.
• Make sure your medical history is up to date.

Our full pre-consult walkthrough is in preparing for your telehealth appointment — the checklist.

What happens during and after the consult?

The clinician opens the call from your end via secure video or phone. They will ask about the reason for the visit, your history, and what you are looking for. Most consultations run between 10 and 25 minutes, depending on complexity.

Afterwards:

• Any e-scripts arrive by SMS and email.
• Referrals and pathology requests are emailed and saved to your Abby record.
• Notes are stored securely so the next clinician you see can pick up from there.
• If a follow-up is needed, the clinician will tell you when and how to book it.

For real medical emergencies, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department — telehealth is not the right place for emergencies. The Healthdirect service offers a free 24/7 phone line on 1800 022 222 for urgent advice.

Can I reschedule or cancel?

Yes. Open My appointments in the app and tap the appointment you want to change. You can reschedule or cancel up to a short window before the start time. Free cancellations apply for almost all bulk-billed consultations.

How Abby can help

If you have not booked before, the first appointment is the slowest — every one after is a few taps. Our care network of 300+ AHPRA-registered clinicians sees patients seven days a week, all year. Book at abbyhealth.app/services/general-practice, or learn how billing works in is Abby bulk billed?. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card.