Guide
How Long Does a Telehealth GP Consultation Take?
14 Nov 2026
Guide
Phone vs Video: Which Telehealth Consultations Need a Camera?
Most OMC Health consults are by phone. The GP may switch to video when seeing you helps, such as for some mental health or injury reviews. Here is the full breakdown.
5 min readMedically reviewedAustralia-wide
A medical certificate consultation does not always require video if a doctor can safely and appropriately assess your situation by phone. The suitable consultation method depends on your symptoms, clinical needs and the doctor's judgement. If a visual examination or further assessment is necessary, the doctor may recommend video, an in-person appointment or another service.
What AHPRA Says About Phone vs Video
Video is not mandatory; what matters is a genuine real-time consultation. A real-time phone call meets this standard for conditions that can be adequately assessed through audio alone. The key principle is that the GP must directly interact with the patient and exercise genuine clinical judgement. A questionnaire without a real call doesn't meet this standard, whatever the medium.
Can You Get a Medical Certificate Over the Phone?
Yes. At OMC Health, the GP assesses most requests in a real-time phone consult, and the certificate is emailed the same day if approved. The GP may switch to video if they need to see you. A form or questionnaire alone isn't enough, because a doctor has to assess you first.
When Phone Is the Default
For most certificate types, a phone consultation is the standard and appropriate mode. The GP can assess your symptoms, history and work capacity through a detailed phone conversation. What matters is a genuine real-time consultation, not the specific format of the call.
| Certificate type | Phone appropriate? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sick leave, flu, cold, gastro, sinusitis, UTI | Yes | Symptoms assessed by description, no visual needed |
| Sick leave, viral infections | Yes | Phone assessment sufficient for standard presentations |
| Sick leave, tonsillitis | Possible | Video preferred, GP can observe throat |
| Sick leave, COVID-19 | Yes | Symptom description sufficient |
| Carer's leave | No, but if GP allows only | Only if caring circumstances could be assessed by description |
| Student medical certificate | Yes | Academic impact assessed by description |
| Medical cancellation letter | Yes | Circumstances assessed by description |
When the GP May Switch to Video
Some ear problems need a closer look. The guide on ear infection by phone or in person explains why.
| Situation | When the GP may use video | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mental health, anxiety, depression, burnout, PTSD | If the GP needs it | Affect, presentation, and demeanour inform the clinical assessment |
| Significant physical injuries, back, knee, shoulder | Strongly preferred | Mobility, posture and visible signs were observed |
| Skin conditions, dermatitis, rashes | Preferred | Visual inspection adds diagnostic value |
| Post-surgical review | Preferred | Wound appearance and mobility were observed |
| Tonsillitis, throat inspection | Preferred | GP can visually assess the throat and tonsils |
| Conjunctivitis | Preferred | Eye appearance was assessed visually |
| Carer's leave | Strongly Preferred | Doctor need to assess who you are going to care for and the condition. |
What If You Don't Have a Camera?
For most certificate types, this is not a problem; phone consultation is the default. If the GP decides video is needed and you have no camera access, contact OMC Health when booking. The GP may be able to conduct an enhanced phone assessment or may recommend an in-person review instead. Skin problems are one case where seeing the area matters. See telehealth limits for skin conditions.
Is a Phone Consultation Certificate Less Valid Than a Video One?
No. A certificate from a registered GP after a genuine phone consultation carries the same legal validity as one from a video consultation. The mode of communication does not affect the certificate's standing under the Fair Work Act 2009. The clinical quality of the assessment is what matters. Employers who doubt telehealth often ask whether online medical certificates are legal, and Fair Work's reasonable person test answers that.
Book a Consultation
If you need a certificate, OMC Health provides real-time AHPRA-registered GP consultations 7 days a week. From $9.99. Full refund if the GP determines a certificate is not clinically appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
For most certificate types, no. Phone is the standard. The GP may switch to video for some mental health or injury assessments. Carer's leave and under-18 consults are by phone or video, as the GP decides.
Yes. A genuine real-time consultation can be a phone call. A real-time phone conversation where the GP conducts a genuine clinical assessment meets the standard.
Phone is the default for most consults, including mental health. The GP may switch to video when seeing you adds clinical value, such as for some injuries or skin conditions. Our medical certificate for skin conditions page explains what a GP can and can't assess remotely.
Yes. Certificate validity depends on the GP's registration and a genuine clinical assessment, not whether a camera was used. A phone consultation certificate carries the same legal weight under the Fair Work Act 2009.
Contact OMC Health when booking to explain your situation. For most standard certificate types, phone is sufficient. For those requiring video, the GP may conduct an enhanced phone assessment or recommend an in-person review.
