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.
Information for Tasmanians about doctors, medical services and helplines available after hours — meaning at night time, on weekends, and public holidays.
Not sure what counts as an ‘after hours’? It means anything that happens:
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.
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.
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:
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.
Some examples include:
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:
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.
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.
You have a few options. You can:
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.
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.
Medicare Mental 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.
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.
Suicide Call Back Service
Phone, video and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide.
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
Support for people struggling with addiction.
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 GP.
1800RESPECT
National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service. Translation services are available – ask for an interpreter if you need one.
QLife
Counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI).
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 Information Hotline
Provides the latest poisons information to the public.
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.