Professor Brendan Murphy has pleaded with patients to stop cancelling face-to-face consultations with their GPs amid reports of a slump in diagnostic tests including skin cancer biopsies and cervical cytology.

“Our doctors are very quiet,” the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer said in a live press conference on Tuesday.

“They don’t mind being quiet, but they’re very worried that people are so frightened that they’re not seeking medical attention.”

Dozens of temporary telehealth Medicare items have been introduced to shift patients away from attending practices where possible.