What’s the Typical Wait Time for an Online GP Compared to a Traditional Clinic?
Most Abby Health patients are seen by a GP or nurse practitioner the same day they book, often within 30 minutes to a few hours. Traditional GP clinics in Australia can have wait times ranging from several days to several weeks, depending on location and demand.
Abby Health’s model is designed to reduce delays and make it easier to access safe, continuous GP care when you need it most.
Why Wait Times Matter in Healthcare
Timely access to healthcare has a direct impact on patient outcomes. Long waits can delay diagnosis, interrupt ongoing treatment, and make it harder for people to manage chronic conditions.
Australia’s in-person GP system is under significant pressure. Many practices are booked out for days or weeks, and rural areas often have fewer doctors available. This makes on-demand, online care an important complement — not a replacement — to traditional medicine.
Abby Health was created to bridge that gap. By allowing Australians to connect with AHPRA-registered clinicians online, we help patients receive high-quality care faster and maintain continuity across visits.
Abby Health’s Average Wait Times
Our data shows that patients who book a telehealth appointment with Abby Health are typically seen within:
- 30 minutes to 3 hours during operating hours
- Same-day access for most routine consultations
- Next-day access for extended or specialised appointments
This compares to 2–10 days for an appointment at many traditional GP clinics in metropolitan areas — and longer in regional settings.
Because our system manages clinician availability dynamically, patients can select the first available slot or schedule at a time that suits them.
Why Abby Health Is Faster
Several structural differences allow Abby Health to offer shorter wait times:
- Digital-first scheduling: Appointments are booked online with real-time availability, reducing bottlenecks and manual booking delays.
- Flexible clinician network: Abby Health’s team includes both GPs and nurse practitioners, all AHPRA-registered, allowing faster matching to the right clinician type.
- Efficient clinical triage: Administrative time is minimised. Patients select their reason for visit in advance — whether a medical certificate, prescription renewal, or referral — so clinicians can prepare before the consultation.
- No physical overhead: Without the constraints of physical rooms or reception queues, we can prioritise clinical time for your care.
When a Traditional Clinic Might Still Be Needed
While telehealth can handle a wide range of consultations, certain scenarios still require in-person assessment — for example:
- Physical examinations or procedures
- Immunisations
- Complex diagnostic workups requiring direct observation
Abby Health works in partnership with the existing healthcare system by providing fast access for general and follow-up care, while referring patients for in-person reviews when clinically appropriate.
Continuity and Safety
Abby Health is designed for long-term, continuous GP care, not just one-off consults. Your medical history, medication list, and past consults are securely stored and accessible to your care team, ensuring every appointment builds on your health story.
This continuity allows Abby Health clinicians to respond quickly to your needs without compromising quality or context — one of the key reasons we can safely offer shorter wait times without cutting corners.
Summary
While traditional clinics remain essential for face-to-face care, most Australians can see an Abby Health GP or nurse practitioner online within hours, not days.
Our bulk billed telehealth model combines medical continuity with accessibility — ensuring that care is timely, secure, and delivered by clinicians who understand your full health journey.
