13 HEALTH—Health advice over the phone

13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) is a confidential phone service that provides health advice to Queenslanders. You can phone and talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the cost of a local call.

13 HEALTH provides qualified health advice—it is not a diagnostic service and should not replace medical consultation. In an emergency always dial 000.

Registered nurses provide health–related advice over the phone for health information and assessment of symptoms. This includes a comprehensive telephone assessment resulting in a recommendation of a time and place of care. The service also provides immediate, evidence based healthcare information and referral to other health care providers which is targeted to the appropriate level and location of care. RN’s also educate callers and guide them to appropriate care. By assessing callers by phone, nurses estimate symptom urgency, rather than diagnose the cause of the symptoms.

Clinical decision protocols help the nurses to recommend who you should talk to and how quickly you should do it. The clinical decision protocols are evidenced-based and reviewed by clinicians in Queensland and overseas.

For child health advice and breastfeeding support, ask to speak to a child health nurse (available from 6.30am-11pm every day).

For a 13 HEALTH fridge magnet, please call 13 43 25 84.

Privacy and confidentiality

All calls to 13 HEALTH are recorded as confidential medical records.

Only staff within 13 HEALTH can access this information for safety and quality assurance purposes and training of staff.

You don’t need to give your name, but you will need to provide your gender and age to have your symptoms assessed. Your details are not required if you are calling for general health information.

Troubleshooting

13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) is only available in Queensland. Interstate callers should contact their local health service provider or call HealthDirect Australia on 1800 022 222.

If you’re in Queensland and can’t connect to 13 HEALTH, try dialling 13 HEAL (13 43 25—the first 6 digits of the number). If you still can’t connect, please contact your service provider or try another mobile phone.

Alternatively, call 13 HEALTH using a landline or mobile phone.