What actually happens at an online consultation
A step-by-step guide to how a phone or video consultation works at drjames.au — from the intake form through to the script decision and what happens after. Everything is real-time with an Australian doctor; nothing is auto-generated by a form.
1. Before the appointment
You choose a time, complete the intake form, and pick phone or video — whichever suits. Most of the history is gathered through the intake form beforehand so the appointment can focus on discussion and clinical decisions rather than data entry.
Tech setup — a phone or a device with a camera and microphone. Nothing to install.
What to have ready — medication list, any recent bloods, and a Medicare card if you have one (optional).
Where you'll be — somewhere private is ideal. That's really the only constraint.
Cost upfront — $29.95 introductory rate is taken at booking. Nothing else is charged automatically.
2. During the appointment
A real-time phone or video consultation at the scheduled time with Dr James, an Australian doctor and GP registrar. Deliberately short and sharp — typically under 10 minutes. Most of the work sits outside the consult itself: the intake form beforehand captures your history, and a written plan afterwards delivers the guidance. The consult itself focuses on clinical decisions and clarifying questions.
Intake before, written plan after — the consult itself is short and sharp.
3. Script decision
Where medication is clinically appropriate, an eScript is sent to whichever Australian pharmacy you choose. Prescriptions are valid for 12 months. If a prescription isn't clinically appropriate, that decision is explained directly — and the fee-refund policy applies.
Where to fill it — any Australian pharmacy. There is no linked pharmacy.
Script validity — 12 months from the date of issue.
PBS at the pharmacy — your Medicare card can still be used for PBS-subsidised medication as a separate pharmacy transaction.
When no script is issued — fee-refund policy applies if no further care from drjames.au is planned.
4. After the appointment
A written plan follows so you have something to refer to. If follow-up is clinically appropriate, that is discussed at the end of the consult and you decide whether to book it. There is no subscription to cancel — you simply do not book another consult unless you want to.
Written plan for you — the guidance and reasoning in writing, so nothing depends on what you can recall from a 10-minute conversation.
Written summary for your regular GP — on request, we can send a summary of the consult to your regular GP so your care is joined up.
Diagnosis-led, holistic where possible — address the underlying cause, rather than default to indefinite medication.
5. Fee-refund policy
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Consultation satisfaction refund
Not satisfied with the consultation itself? Contact us and we refund the fee.
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No-prescription refund
If, after the assessment, no prescription is issued and no further care from drjames.au is planned, we refund the fee.
Claim window: 14 days from the consult, in writing to admin@drjames.au. These are fee-refund promises, not therapeutic outcome guarantees — clinical decisions are made on their merits. Full terms in the Terms of Use §12.
Book Dr James — phone or video
Dr James is an Australian doctor, GP registrar with the RACGP training programme. Every consultation is real-time — phone or video, your choice at booking. Introductory pricing is $29.95 — fully private, with no Medicare rebate on the consult fee.
Fee-refund policy: if you are not satisfied with the consultation, we refund the fee. If no prescription is issued and no further care from drjames.au is planned, we refund the fee. Claim within 14 days. See full policy →
Book an appointment — $29.95Common questions about the process
What happens at an online telehealth consultation in Australia?
A real-time phone or video consultation at a scheduled time with an Australian-registered doctor. History, medication review, examination-by-questioning where appropriate, and a discussion of options. Where clinically appropriate, an eScript is sent to whichever Australian pharmacy you choose.
Do I need a Medicare card for the consult?
No. drjames.au is a fully private service — there is no Medicare rebate on the consult fee, so a Medicare card is not required to book. Your Medicare card can still be used at the pharmacy for PBS-subsidised medication if a script is issued; that is a separate pharmacy transaction, not a rebate from drjames.au.
How long does the appointment take?
Deliberately short — typically under 10 minutes. Most of your history is captured in the intake form beforehand and the written plan is delivered afterwards, so the appointment itself focuses on clinical decisions and clarifying questions.
Can you send a summary of the consult to my regular GP?
Yes, on request. If you have a regular GP, we can send a written summary of the consult to them so your care is joined up. Just say the word during or after the consult.
What is your treatment approach?
Diagnosis-led and holistic where possible. The aim is to address the underlying cause of the problem rather than default to indefinite medication. Medication is one tool among several — appropriate when clinically indicated, not the default answer.
How long is a script valid, and where can I fill it?
Prescriptions issued at the consult are valid for 12 months and can be filled at any Australian pharmacy of your choice. There is no linked pharmacy and no dispensing arrangement — you pay the pharmacy directly for any medication.
What if I'm not satisfied with the consult, or no script is issued?
Two fee-refund promises apply. First, if you are not satisfied with the consultation itself, we refund the fee. Second, if after the assessment no prescription is issued and no further care from drjames.au is planned, we refund the fee — you do not pay for a 'no'. Claims must be made in writing to admin@drjames.au within 14 days of the consult. These are fee-refund promises, not therapeutic outcome guarantees — clinical decisions are made on their merits. Full terms in the drjames.au Terms of Use, section 12.