HOSPITAL PATIENTS GUIDE

PATIENT INFORMATION
These may include Meals-On-Wheels, District
Nursing, your nominated community pharmacy
and other support services.
In some circumstances, Bass Coast Regional
Health is obligated by law to release personal
information about you. For example, we report
notifiable diseases to the Department of Health
and all cancers to the Anti-Cancer Council of
Australia. De-identified data is sent to the
Department of Health, as a requirement of all
public hospitals.
Information is only made available for research
projects, which have been approved by an Ethics
Committee. Individuals who carry out research
must follow strict guidelines and maintain
confidentiality of the information that they
access.
No personal, identifiable information apart from
that described will leave the Health Services
without prior consent.
How do we protect your
health information?
Everyone working at Bass Coast Regional Health
has a legal duty to keep information about you
confidential. We only pass on information about
you if authorised by you or by law. Whenever
possible, details which identify you are removed.
Any person or organisation that receives
information from us has a legal duty to keep it
confidential. The Health Records Act 2001 (VIC)
came into effect in July 2002 and Bass Coast
Regional Health has processes in place to meet all
requirements of this Act. Information relating to
this Act and more general privacy considerations
can be found at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/privacy
How can you access your
health information?
Under the Freedom of Information Act you have,
in most circumstances, the right to access your
medical record and the right to amend it if
necessary. Requests to access your medical
record can be made in writing to the
Organisation’s Freedom of Information Officer.
Charges will apply.
Postal address on page 17.
TIPS FOR SAFER HEALTH CARE
1. Be actively involved with your own health
care.
Take part in every decision to help prevent
things from going wrong and get the best
possible care for your needs.
2. Speak up if you have any questions or
concerns.
Ask questions. Expect answers that you can
understand. Ask a family member, carer or
interpreter to be there with you if you want.
3. Learn more about your condition or
treatments.
Collect as much reliable information as you
can. Ask your health care professional:
• What should I look out for?
• Please tell me more about my condition,
tests and treatment.
• How will the tests or treatments help me
and what is involved?
• What are the risks and what is likely to
happen if I don't have this treatment?
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