Prominent GPs have called for a national COVID-19 home healthcare service, warning current arrangements will be unable to cope with the number of cases likely to flood GP practices and hospitals.

Based on overseas experiences, Dr Nathan Pinskier says COVID-19 cases in Australia could jump to 10,000 to 15,000 a day once the nation reopens.

The Melbourne GP is proposing a dedicated 24/7 hotline staffed by doctors to provide a central point of contact, triage and support for patients.

“We know we have an immediate and acute problem which is inevitably going to get worse,” he told 6minutes.