The RFDS in QLD
Telehealth and Medical Chests
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) provides an after-hours telehealth service for rural, remote, and regional residents of north Queensland needing urgent medical care.
This service is normally only available to people outside of the major population centres but has been extended short-term to take in flood affected areas of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service where patients with urgent medical needs are unable to access in hours support.
Operating hours are:
- 6:00pm – 11:00pm Monday to Friday
- Saturday 1:00pm – 12:00am and
- Sundays and Public Holidays 24 hours.
Please phone 1300 697 622 for an appointment or find out more online.
RFDS medical officers provide a 24-hour medical consultation service via telephone and radio transmission. The service is provided to people living, working or travelling in remote areas of Queensland. Advice is also available to rural doctors, remote area nurses, allied health staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, patients and carers.
Another unique service is the RFDS Medical Chest. There are over 1,300 of these valuable medical chests located throughout the state. They allow patients to be treated for a range of medical conditions including antibiotics for infections, pain relief prior to medical evacuation and more. They contain a variety of first aid items, medications and pain relief.
A guide for RFDS Medical Chest Custodians is available to review online.
Medical Chest Administration
1300 624 378
medicalchest@rfdsqld.com.au