We are a not-for-profit co-operative owned by the members, who are local GPs in Wollongong and Shellharbour areas.  Apart from excellent after hours medical care, RDI also bulk bills patients who have a Medicare or Veterans Affairs card. All calls are taken by our professional call centre which specialises in after hours visits.

We are accredited by Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL), which means we meet rigorous national standards for health care quality and safety.  Radio Doctor Illawarra is also recognised as an Accredited Medical Deputising Service .

We take pride in our provision of after hours health care in the Illawarra however we don’t act as an emergency service or treat cuts or wounds or provide S8 drugs.

To read more about our service, please see:

– Radio Doctor Illawarra Patient Information Brochure (PDF format)

Our History

Radio Doctor service originated in the Illawarra 1974 after a meeting of six local GPs who were concerned about providing quality after hours care for their patients. The service has grown to include over 280 doctors and now provides after hours health care for patients every night of the year from the Seacliff Bridge (starting at Scarborough) in the north to Shell Cove in the south.

Why are we called Radio Doctor?

Sure seems a strange name and has occasionally caused some confusion.  When we started in 1974 there were no mobile phones.  To conduct our home visits, we drove a Holden HQ and the doctors would stop at a service station or phone box (remember them) and call the office (base) to find out if there were any more patients to visit.  About 1975, the cars had two way radios installed so the Doctors could more easily communicate with the base and other vehicle.  So the name ‘Radio Doctor’ comes from those early days when we used two way radio for some of our communications.