How it works
How an online prescription consultation works
Speak with a HerDoc GP by phone about a prescription request. Here is what to prepare, what the doctor reviews and how to use an electronic prescription if one is issued.
What happens in an online prescription consultation?
An online prescription consultation involves a real-time phone appointment with a HerDoc GP. You share your request and relevant health information, then the GP assesses what care is needed. If the GP prescribes, HerDoc sends the electronic prescription token by SMS or email.
1. Prepare for your phone appointment
Have your main concern, symptoms, current medicines, allergies and relevant medical history handy. For an existing medicine, include the label and any recent results or advice from your usual prescriber.
You can upload relevant photos, records or documents during intake. The GP can see records added to your HerDoc file; records from another clinic may need to be provided. The prescribing decision follows the consultation, rather than the form or payment.
2. Talk through your request with the GP
You can have a specific request or ask the GP what they recommend. In the phone consultation, you can discuss what has changed, what you have tried and what you hope treatment will help with.
The GP reviews symptoms, history, other medicines and relevant records. They may prescribe, provide advice, or recommend tests, a referral, follow-up or an examination. Ask what you need to arrange next and who should review any results.
3. If a prescription is issued
An electronic prescription is a digital prescription. The SMS or email contains a link to a token—a barcode the pharmacy uses to retrieve your prescription. Check that you can access the message and contact [email protected] if you need help with a HerDoc-issued token.
A participating pharmacy of your choice can scan the token. The pharmacist makes a separate dispensing decision and can explain supply, stock and pharmacy charges. If repeats are included, the pharmacy sends a new token after dispensing; this is different from asking a GP for a new prescription.
The Australian Digital Health Agency explains how electronic prescription tokens and repeats work, including who to contact if a token is lost.
4. Check costs and follow-up arrangements
The HerDoc consultation fee covers the appointment. Medicines, pharmacy charges and external services are separate. A further HerDoc consultation has its own fee.
Use the pricing page for current consultation fees and ask the pharmacy about medicine costs. If the GP recommends another appointment or service, check its arrangements directly.
Severe reactions, overdose or poisoning
Call 000 now for severe breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, collapse, unresponsiveness, a seizure, severe confusion or another severe or rapidly worsening reaction. Do not wait for a HerDoc appointment.
If someone may have taken the wrong medicine or too much medicine, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for immediate advice, even if there are no symptoms. If the person is unresponsive, not breathing normally or showing signs of overdose, call 000 for an ambulance.
For non-emergency health advice while HerDoc is unavailable, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse.
Join the HerDoc waitlist
HerDoc is preparing to launch. Join the waiting list for updates; joining does not guarantee appointment timing, prescribing or electronic delivery.
Related pages
FAQs
Can I get a prescription just by completing a form?
No. A HerDoc prescription request involves a real-time phone consultation with a GP. The GP makes the prescribing decision after assessment.
Can the GP see records from my usual clinic?
The GP can see records added to your HerDoc file. Records from another clinic may need to be provided, and you can upload relevant documents during intake. The GP may need further information after reviewing them.
Can I choose which pharmacy to use?
Yes. You can take an electronic prescription token to a participating pharmacy of your choice. Check that it accepts electronic prescriptions and ask it about stock, dispensing requirements and costs.
What if I lose the electronic prescription token?
For an original prescription, contact the prescriber; for a repeat token, contact the pharmacy that issued the repeat. For help with a HerDoc-issued token, contact [email protected]. A missing message is different from needing a new prescription.
Is a repeat token the same as a prescription renewal?
No. A repeat token provides access to a repeat already included in a prescription. A renewal is a request for a new prescription and needs a GP review.
Does the consultation fee include the medicine?
No. Medicines and pharmacy charges are separate from the HerDoc consultation fee. External services and a further HerDoc consultation can also have their own fees.