More than 3.7 million phone and video consultations have been claimed through Medicare since items were created a month ago, the Department of Health says.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd provided the update to GPs in a seminar streamed online on Thursday.

He also addressed concerns about what resources were available to doctors to guide discussions and decision-making around palliative care during the COVID-19 crisis.

Professor Kidd was joined by Department of Veterans’ Affairs chief health officer Dr Jenny Firman and geriatrician Dr Michael Chapman, who is the medical director of palliative care at Canberra Hospital.