The Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 requires ACT Government Health Directorate to create and keep health records in a manner that ensures the privacy of your health information. Our goal is to afford you the opportunity to access the information held about you in these health records.
See below for more information on recent changes to the Health Records (Privacy & Access) Act 1997, which came into force on 01 October 2010.
Accessing your ACT Government Health Directorate medical records
- How do I access my own health record?
| Download: | Health Records Access Information Sheet 2013 (Microsoft Word Document - 1999k) |
- Canberra Hospital and Community Based medical records
- Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services medical records
About Health Records
Health records are confidential documents and remain the property of ACT Government Health Directorate. Copies of health records are not released to consumers or third parties without a written request and signed authorisation from the consumer.
Requests to access health records are assessed under the ACT Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 and fees apply.
| Download: | Request for record access (January 2013) (PDF File - 760k) |
See these documents for more information about health records:
- ACT Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 - Information for consumers and providers of health services
| Download: | Information for consumers and providers of health services (February 2012) (PDF File - 429k) |
- Health Records (Privacy & Access) Act 1997 - Information for record keepers
| Download: | Health Records (Privacy & Access) Act 1997 - Information for record keepers (February 2012) (PDF File - 455k) |
Medical Records Fees
The Medical Records Fee Approval is the full fees determination instrument.
| Download: | Medical Records Fee Determination (January 2013) (PDF File - 19k) |
Recent changes to the Health Records (Privacy & Access) Act 1997
Changes to the Health Records (Privacy & Access) Act 1997 came into force on 1 October 2010, with the recently passed Health Legislation Amendment Act 2010 (No.2).
The changes to the law affect patient health record keepers as follows:
- it requires a period of four weeks notice to consumers and the community before a closure, merger or relocation of a practice;
- it enables the prioritisation of urgent requests for the transfer of health records;
- it clarifies that consumers can only ask for a copy of their health record and not an original but this does not prevent you transferring original records if you choose;
- it clarifies the time frames around when a requested copy of a record must be provided by a record keeper; and
- it introduces a requirement that record keepers notify ACT Government Health Directorate of practice closures, mergers or relocations.
More information on the changes
See the Fact Sheet below, which assists record keepers when a patient makes a record transfer request, or when a practice closes, merges or relocates.
Two training sessions were recently conducted by the ACT Health Services Commissioner to help record keepers, health professionals and the general public understand the responsibilities of a record keeper.
Health Practice Closure, Merger or Relocation
| Download: | Transferring a health record fact sheet (PDF File - 89k) |
