Find medical help after hours

Information for Tasmanians about doctors, medical services and helplines available after hours — meaning at night time, on weekends, and public holidays.

Search for your nearest open general practice, pharmacy or emergency department

Helpful links

After-hours care

Injury and illness don’t always follow a nine-to-five schedule. When something goes wrong outside of usual business hours, it’s really important to be able to find the right care as quickly as possible.

This Tas After Hours website exists to help Tasmanians do just that. Here you’ll find information about health services that are available outside the after-hours period.

Not sure what counts as an ‘after hours’? It means anything that happens:

  • before 8:00am and after 6:00pm weekdays
  • before 8:00am and after 12:00pm Saturdays
  • all day Sundays and public holidays.

What to do if you need an after-hours doctor or health support

Call a GP

Your regular GP should always be your first point of call for urgent medical care that isn’t a life-threatening emergency. Check if your regular general practice is open after hours by searching the National Health Services Directory at the top of this page. If they aren't open, you'll be able to use the directory to see if there's a different doctor's surgery open near you. There may also be a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic nearby, providing bulk-billed after-hours care.
Helpful links

Chat to a registered nurse about your symptoms

If your regular GP or different one nearby isn't available, the 24/7 healthdirect medical helpline is a good next step. The free helpline is staffed by registered nurses who can provide advice when you're not sure what to do. If needed during the after hours period, you will be offered a call-back from a Tasmanian GP.
Helpful links

Emergencies

If you think it's an emergency, call an ambulance or go to a hospital emergency department.
Helpful links

Do you need an interpreter?

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)   

TIS National provides access to interpreters over the phone, via video conference, or to attend an appointment in person.

Most TIS National interpreting services are free to non-English speakers. Generally the organisation you are contacting will accept the charges for the service.

Frequently asked questions

What is an after-hours service?

After hours refers to general practices and other health services that can be accessed outside normal business hours.

One of the key goals of after-hours services is to provide an alternative to hospital emergency services. After-hours options include late-night GP clinics, late-night pharmacies, and locum services.

After hours is defined as:

  • before 8.00 am and after 6.00 pm weekdays
  • before 8.00 am and after 12.00 pm Saturday
  • all day Sunday and public holidays.

Most general practices operate normal working hours with their phone diverted to their preferred after-hours provider. Some have late evening and weekend morning clinics, some offer an after-hours service, and some also provide regular patients with a home-visiting doctor service.

How do I know if it's a medical emergency?

Some examples include:

  • chest pain or chest tightness
  • sudden onset of severe abdominal pain or labour pain
  • major accidents
  • sudden onset of weakness, numbness, paralysis of limbs or face
  • unconsciousness
  • severe blood loss
  • sudden unexplained collapse.
Can I go to a hospital emergency department?

Emergency medical care is available through 19 hospitals, community and health centres across Tasmania. Search the National Health Services Directory on this page to find emergency care near you that is open now.

Emergency medical care is available 24/7 at the major hospitals:

  • Royal Hobart Hospital – 6166 6100
  • Launceston General Hospital – 6777 6405
  • North West Regional Hospital (Burnie) – 6493 6000
  • Mersey Community Hospital (Latrobe) – 6478 5500
Can a pharmacist help me?

Some pharmacies have extended opening hours if you need medicine late at night or help to manage a minor illness.

Search the National Health Services Directory on this page to find a pharmacy near you that is open now.

I am experiencing a mental health crisis and need to talk to someone. Who can I call after hours?

If you feel your life is in danger, call Triple 0 (000) for Ambulance, Fire or Police.

The Access Mental Health helpline is available 24/7 and offers mental health advice, assessment, and referral. Call 1800 332 388.

Lifeline also provides support for anyone in Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide. Call 131 114.

More helpline options are listed below.

What if I want to see a doctor in my own home?

You have a few options. You can:

  • Ask your regular general practice if they do home visits.
  • Call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222. You may be referred to a local GP who will, where appropriate, coordinate a local after hours doctor to see you in their surgery or in your home at their discretion.
  • Research home-visiting services, if they’re in your area.
  • Ask your regular GP, or another doctor, if they can provide support via phone or computer, so you can talk to them from home.
Can an after-hours doctor access my medical record? What happens to notes from my after-hours consultation?

An after-hours doctor cannot access your medical record, but will forward notes from your consultation to your regular GP.

If you have a My Health Record, we recommend you ask your GP to upload a shared health summary, particularly when there are significant changes to your health information. This will help other healthcare providers involved in your care to have access to current and correct information to provide safe and effective care to you. You have a My Health Record unless you’ve specifically told the Australian Government you don’t want one. Find out more at myhealthrecord.gov.au, or call 1800 723 471.

Helplines

Mental health and suicide prevention

Beyond Blue
Information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they are.

Lifeline
Support for anyone in Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide.

A Tasmanian Lifeline
Telephone support service for Tasmanians of all ages who need someone to talk things through with.

Access Mental Health
The Tasmanian Department of Health’s free helpline staffed by community mental health clinicians, able to provide advice, assessment and referral to State Government mental health services.

Head to Health website
Australian Government website offering free digital mental health resources from trusted service providers.

Butterfly Foundation
Support for those experiencing an eating disorder and want to talk to someone.

  • When: 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
  • Phone: 1800 334 673
  • Visit website

Headspace
Early intervention mental health services for 12–25 year olds.

13YARN
Connects callers with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter.

MensLine Australia

Free telephone and online counselling service offering support for men.

MindSpot
Free service for Australian adults who are experiencing difficulties with anxiety, stress, depression and low mood. Provides online screening assessments and treatment courses, or can help find local services.

Rural Alive and Well (RAW)
Focus on mental health and suicide prevention for Tasmanian individuals, families and communities – listening, providing information, support, service linking and strategies to help.

  • When: 24/7
  • Phone: 1300 4357 6283 phone or outreach worker will come to you.
  • Visit website

Suicide Call Back Service
Phone, video and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide.

Alcohol and other drug support

National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
Support for people struggling with addiction.

Medical advice

healthdirect Australia
If you don’t have a regular GP or they’re not available, you can still get medical advice by calling the free national medical helpline. You will be able to discuss your symptoms with a registered nurse who will provide advice. If needed during the after-hours period, you will be offered a call-back from a Tasmanian GP.

Domestic violence and sexual assault

1800RESPECT

National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service. Translation services are available – ask for an interpreter if you need one.

  • When: 24/7, telephone or online
  • Phone: 1800 737 732
  • Visit website
LGBTIQA+

QLife
Counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI).

Parenting

Breastfeeding Helpline
This Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline welcomes questions and provides information about breastfeeding.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
Supporting parents on the journey from pregnancy to preschool. Get the guidance and reassurance you need about developmental and behavioural concerns from their maternal child health nurses or talk to their counsellors for emotional support.

Poisons

Poisons Information Hotline
Provides the latest poisons information to the public.

Young people

Headspace
Early intervention mental health services for 12–25 year olds.

Kids Helpline
Phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.