Gateway Health offers telehealth for some services, providing an easy way to have a meeting with your health worker over the phone or via video chat.
Your health worker will talk to you about your telehealth options, which may include using a landline, mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, or computer. These will depend on what you have available to use at home.
The systems we use ensure your privacy is maintained just as if you were here in a clinic room with your health worker.
Find out more
To find out if you are eligible to have appointments via telehealth or if you would like to know more, please contact us:
At times it may be difficult for us to visit you at home or for you to attend the clinic due to reasons such as a public health lockdown.
Telehealth is a way that we can make sure you are able to access health care when face-to-face meetings are not possible.
Telehealth is suitable for many people and is particularly useful for anyone who:
is in quarantine or self-isolating (staying home while waiting for test results)
is unable to attend an appointment in the clinic
finds it difficult to travel or leave home
has a chronic condition or problems with their body’s immune system (immuno-compromised)
is pregnant or a parent of a newborn baby
But there are times when telehealth may not be suitable e.g. your health worker needs to see you in person to complete a physical examination or you do not have access to what you need for telehealth.
If you have any questions about whether telehealth is suitable for you or you require support to access telehealth please contact us:
Your health worker will talk to you about your telehealth options. These will depend on what you have available to use at home.
A quiet space free from distractions where you feel comfortable to discuss your health
For phone consultation – Landline or mobile phone
For video consultation
Smartphone, tablet or computer with access to a camera and speakers (these are often built into home computers already)
An Internet connection that will allow you to video chat for the length of your session (usually 30 to 60 minutes)
Someone to help you set up the meeting if you need help
A good connection to the internet – If you can watch a video online (e.g. YouTube) you can make a video call
A private, well-lit area where you will not be disturbed during the consultation
One of these:
Google Chrome web browser (recommended) or Firefox web browser on a desktop or laptop (Windows or MacOS), or on an Android tablet or smartphone
Safari web browser on an Apple desktop or laptop (MacOS), or iPad or iPhone
Web-camera, speakers and microphone (already built into laptops or mobile devices)
Video calls are secure; your privacy is protected. You have your own private video room, that only authorised clinicians can enter.
The video call is free (except for your internet usage).
However, the regular costs – if any – of a medical consultation still apply.
You don’t use any data while waiting for a clinician to join you.
A video consultation uses less than half of the data you would use while watching a YouTube video in High Definition (that’s about 230 MB on a mobile device, and 450 MB on a PC) for a 20-minute call, which is similar to Skype® or FaceTime®.
Data use is less on lower-speed internet connections, or if you’re using a less powerful computer, tablet, or smartphone. These factors can also reduce the overall quality of the call.
Data use increases when there are more than two participants in the call.
Connect to a home or work Wi-Fi network if possible to avoid using your mobile data allowance.
