Privacy Policy

This practice is bound by the Commonwealth Privacy Act - Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 and complies with the Victorian Health Records Act 2001, ten National Privacy Principles and eleven Health Privacy Principles.

The maintenance of privacy requires that any information regarding individual patients, including staff members who may be patients, may not be disclosed either verbally, in writing, in electronic form, or by copying, without the consent of the patient or their legal representative other than as could reasonably be expected for the provision of coordinated patient care at the practice, or as may be legally required or directed.

There are no degrees of privacy.  All patient information is considered private and confidential, and is not to be disclosed to family, friends, staff or others without the patient’s approval. Any information given to unauthorised personnel will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

Each staff member is bound by his/her privacy agreement which is signed upon commencement of employment at this Practice.

All information received in the course of a consultation between a doctor and the patient is considered personal health information.  This information includes medical details, family information, address, employment and other demographic and accounts data obtained via reception. Medical information can include past medical & social history, current health issues and future medical care. It includes the formal medical record whether written or electronic and information held or recorded on any other medium e.g. letter, fax, or electronically.  

Doctors, allied health practitioners and all other staff in this Practice have a responsibility to maintain the privacy of personal health information and related financial information. The privacy of this information is every patient’s right.

The physical medical records (paper or electronic) and related information created and maintained for the continuing management of each patient are the property of the Practice. The Practice must ensure the protection of all information.  This information is deemed a personal health record and while the patient does not have ownership of the record he/she has the right to access under the provisions of the Commonwealth Privacy and State Health Records Acts.

Requests for access are to be noted in the patient's medical record as are authorisations for third parties to have access to this information.