Australia’s after-hours GP services are “doomed” to fail and most will be gone in five years’ time, one of the sector’s top GPs is warning.

Dr Nathan Pinskier says Medicare-funded telehealth is to blame as demand for after-hours home visits slumps as patients turn to phone and video consults.

“The new telehealth items are looking like the straw that broke the camel’s back and our members are very, very despondent,” says Dr Pinskier, president of the GP Deputising Association.

He says some members of the industry body have suffered a 60% slump in revenue since the emergency items, due to remain until 30 September, were first rolled out two months ago.