Blog & Insights

Yes, a GP can issue a medical certificate through a telehealth appointment when the consultation is conducted in real time and provides enough clinical information to confirm illness, injury, or carer’s leave. The certificate is issued based on medical judgment, not the format of the appointment.

Telehealth appointments take place by phone or video. Telehealth allows patients to consult healthcare providers, including a GP, by phone or video when a physical examination is not needed. For many common situations, a phone or video consultation gives the GP everything needed to assess your condition and prepare a certificate.

When is a Telehealth Medical Certificate Suitable?

A telehealth appointment is suitable for straightforward situations where the GP can assess your symptoms, ask clinical questions, review your history clearly, and make a decision without examining you in person.

This often includes:

• cold and flu symptoms
• mild gastro symptoms
• short-term illness
• mental health-related work absence
• carer’s leave for a family or household member
• follow-up after a previous appointment
• conditions already known to the clinic

A telehealth appointment is a proper medical consultation, not a shortcut for paperwork. The GP still assesses your condition before deciding whether a certificate is appropriate.

Does a GP Still Need to Assess You Before Issuing a Certificate?

Yes, and this applies regardless of whether the appointment is in person or by telehealth. A medical certificate is not a simple form but a medical document that requires clinical judgement from a licensed healthcare provider.

The Medical Board of Australia’s telehealth guidelines (in effect since 1 September 2023) confirm that issuing a medical certificate is a medical service that requires a real-time consultation. That means it requires a real-time doctor-patient consultation, assessment, treatment if needed, and a decision that a certificate is clinically indicated. A GP cannot issue a valid certificate based on a message, a form submission, or a request made without a proper consultation. The doctor needs sufficient information to make an accurate assessment and validate the certificate’s contents.

When Do You Need an In-Person Appointment Instead?

An in-person appointment is needed when the GP requires a physical examination, direct observation, testing, or urgent assessment to make a clinical decision. Telehealth has genuine limits, and a good GP will tell you honestly when those limits apply.

Situations that typically require an in-person visit include:

• chest pain or breathing difficulty
• severe or unexplained pain
• injury after a fall or accident
• worsening symptoms that are not improving
• workplace injuries requiring detailed assessment
• any symptoms the GP cannot assess without examining you
• concerns that may need emergency care

Telehealth is not appropriate for all consultations because the standard of care is limited. If your GP determines that an in-person visit is necessary after you start a telehealth consultation, they will let you know and explain why.

Will Your Employer Accept a Telehealth Medical Certificate?

In most cases, yes. Employers generally require only that the certificate be issued by a registered doctor following a proper consultation. It usually does not matter whether that consultation took place in a clinic or by phone or video.

The Fair Work Ombudsman states that employers can ask for evidence when an employee takes sick or carer’s leave, and that a medical certificate or a statutory declaration is an accepted form of evidence. The evidence must be enough to satisfy a reasonable person that the employee was entitled to the leave.

Fair Work also confirms that employers can request evidence for as little as one day off work. If your workplace has specific requirements around certificate wording or format, raise this with your GP before the consultation ends.

What to Prepare Before Your Telehealth Appointment?

Before the appointment, have the following ready:

• your symptoms and when they started
• the date you stopped work or study
• your expected return date
• current medications
• any relevant medical history
• your employer’s requirements for certificate wording, if you know them

When you have all the necessary information ready before your telehealth appointment, your GP will be able to complete the consultation quickly and ensure that the certificate accurately reflects your situation.