ACCESSING AND CORRECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

At check-in, our reception staff may ask you to confirm your personal details to help ensure our records remain accurate and up to date.

Accessing Your Personal Information

You may request access to the personal and health information Westridge Medical holds about you. We may ask you to make your request in writing and provide enough information to verify your identity and identify the records you require.

You may request access in a particular form, such as:

• an electronic copy

• a printed copy

• viewing the record in person

• sending the information to another healthcare provider or authorised representative.

We will provide access in the requested form where it is reasonable and practicable to do so. We will respond within a reasonable period, generally within 30 days.

Access may be refused or limited in circumstances permitted by law, including where providing the information would:

• pose a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety

• unreasonably affect another person’s privacy

• disclose information connected with legal proceedings

• be unlawful

• fall within another exception permitted under applicable privacy law.

Where appropriate, we may offer another method of access, such as providing a summary, removing information relating to another person or arranging access through an agreed third party.

If we refuse access or cannot provide access in the requested form, we will provide written reasons where required and explain the available complaint process.

Fees for Accessing Records

There is no fee for making a request to access your information.

We may charge a reasonable fee for providing access, including costs associated with locating, reviewing, copying and securely delivering the requested information. We will advise you of any expected fee where practicable.

Any fee charged will not be excessive or used to discourage you from requesting access.

Requests From Family Members and Other Representatives

We will not disclose a patient’s personal or health information to family members or other third parties unless:

• the patient has authorised the disclosure

• the person is legally authorised to act on the patient’s behalf

• the disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

We may ask for written consent or other evidence of authority before releasing information to another person or organisation.

Children and Young People

Requests concerning a child’s health information will be considered according to the child’s age, maturity, capacity, circumstances and best interests, as well as the authority of the parent, guardian or other representative making the request.

A young person who has sufficient understanding and maturity may be able to make their own privacy decisions. In these circumstances, their health information may be kept confidential unless disclosure is authorised or permitted or required by law.

Court orders, parenting arrangements and any identified risk to the child or another person may also affect whether information can be disclosed.

Use and Disclosure of Information

We use and disclose personal and health information only for purposes connected with providing healthcare, managing the practice and fulfilling related administrative requirements.

Information may also be used or disclosed where the patient has provided consent or where the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Further information about how Westridge Medical collects, stores, uses and discloses personal information is available in our Privacy Policy.

Correcting Your Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to ensure the personal information we hold is accurate, up to date, complete, relevant and not misleading.

You may ask us to correct or update your personal information. Requests can be made in writing to:

Practice Manager
Email: admin@westridgemedical.com.au

We may ask you to provide information supporting the requested correction.

If we decline to make a requested correction, we will provide written reasons where required and explain the available complaint process. You may also ask us to associate a statement with your record noting that you believe the information is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.

There is no charge for requesting a correction, making a correction or associating a statement with your record.

For further information about your privacy rights, please visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.