Last reviewed: October 2026
Seeing a new health practitioner by telehealth can feel unfamiliar. This article explains what to expect at Cortex Telehealth, from booking through to follow-up, so there are no surprises.
Who you’ll see
All consultations at Cortex Telehealth are with Brett Jones, a Nurse Practitioner. Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with advanced clinical training and a master’s-level qualification, endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to assess, diagnose, order tests, prescribe and refer within their scope of practice.
Brett’s areas of focus are menopause and perimenopause, hormone health, metabolic health and weight, and men’s health.
How telehealth works
Cortex Telehealth sees patients Australia-wide. Your first consult is by video, so Brett can see you and you can both focus on the conversation. Follow-ups can be by video or phone. Please join from somewhere quiet where you can concentrate, not while you’re out and about, and never while driving. You don’t need to travel or sit in a waiting room. You will need:
- a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone
- a reliable internet connection
- a private, quiet space where you feel comfortable talking openly.
Telehealth works well for many conversations, but it does have limits. Brett can’t do a physical examination over video. If you need one, such as a blood pressure check, a pelvic or breast examination, or cervical screening, he may ask you to see your GP or a local service, or to get certain checks done before or after your consult.
Before your appointment
Intake form. When you book, you’ll be asked to complete an intake form. It covers your current symptoms, medical history, medicines, allergies and family history. Taking time to fill it in carefully means more of your consult can be spent on what matters to you.
Blood tests. Depending on your situation, Brett may send you a pathology request to have blood tests done before your appointment, so the results are ready to discuss. Not everyone needs tests beforehand. If you are sent a request, please allow enough time for the results to come through. Pathology collection centres may have their own fees, so check with them.
What to have ready
It helps to have these on hand during your consult:
- a list of all medicines you take, including vitamins, supplements and herbal products
- any recent blood test results, scans or letters from other practitioners, if they aren’t already with us
- for menopause-related concerns, a rough record of your periods and symptoms over the past few months, if you have one
- your height, weight and waist measurement, and a recent blood pressure reading if you have access to one
- the name and contact details of your regular GP
- a short list of questions or the main things you’d like to cover
- your Medicare card details, which you’ll be asked for when you register. They’re needed so Brett can send pathology requests and electronic prescriptions, even though the consult itself has no Medicare rebate.
- if you don’t have Medicare, your Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) instead. Services Australia explains how to get an IHI.
During the first consult
Your first consult runs for about 40 minutes. Brett will:
- talk with you about your symptoms, goals and concerns
- go through your health history and any test results
- explain what may be going on, and what the evidence says, including where it is strong and where it is less certain
- discuss the options available to you, including lifestyle approaches, further tests, treatment or referral, along with their possible benefits, risks and limitations
- make a plan together with you.
You’re welcome to have a support person with you. You are always free to ask questions, take time to think things over, or seek a second opinion. Not every consult ends with a prescription. Sometimes the best next step is more information, further tests, or a referral to someone else.
After your consult, a summary is prepared for your GP. It’s your choice whether it’s shared with them, and sharing it helps keep your care connected.
Follow-up appointments
Follow-up appointments are about 20 minutes. They’re used to review how you’re going, look at any new results, and adjust your plan if needed. How often you need follow-up depends on your situation.
Fees
Cortex Telehealth is a private service. No Medicare rebate applies to these consultations, so the full fee is out-of-pocket.
| Appointment | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | 40 minutes | $160 |
| Follow-up consultation | 20 minutes | $80 |
Separate costs may apply for things outside the consultation, such as pathology collected by an external laboratory or medicines dispensed by a pharmacy.
What Cortex Telehealth is not for
Cortex Telehealth is not an emergency service. If you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, signs of stroke, thoughts of harming yourself, or any other emergency, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
For urgent mental health support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For non-urgent health advice at any time, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Telehealth also doesn’t replace your regular GP, who remains an important part of your ongoing care.
Your privacy
Your health information is kept confidential and handled in line with Australian privacy law. Read our privacy policy.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Talk to your health practitioner about your own situation.