NQPHN receives federal funding through the PHN Afterhours Program which aims to address gaps in afterhours service arrangements and improve service integration within the region with key objectives to:

• increase the efficiency and effectiveness of afterhours primary health care for patients, particularly those with limited access to health services
• improve access to afterhours primary health care through effective planning, coordination, and support for population based afterhours primary health care
• improve the availability of afterhours GP services through working collaboratively with GPs.

The commissioning priorities for 2023 were: 

• Afterhours GP telehealth (Read the new lead provider announcement here.)
• Afterhours primary care in Townsville and Mackay (Find out more and apply here.)
• Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs)

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) provides an after-hours telehealth service for rural, remote, and regional residents of north Queensland needing urgent medical care.

This service is normally only available to people outside of the major population centres but has been extended short-term to take in flood affected areas of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service where patients with urgent medical needs are unable to access in hours support.

Operating hours are:

• 6pm – 11pm Monday to Friday
• Saturday 1pm – 12am and
• Sundays and Public Holidays 24 hours.

Please phone 1300 697 622 for an appointment or find out more online.