Privacy Commissioner releases new privacy guidance on accessing health information under Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act)

Media release: Privacy Commissioner releases new privacy guidance on accessing health information under Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act) (PDF, 60kb)

In response to an increase in privacy issues around accessing health information under NSW privacy legislation, the NSW Privacy Commissioner Dr Elizabeth Coombs has led the development of three new privacy resources to assist the NSW community when seeking access to their health information, and to guide organisations when providing that access.

“In early 2014, I commissioned a sample survey of the NSW community to find out what they knew about their rights to access personal and health information under NSW privacy legislation. The outcome of this survey, along with the complaints to the office regarding access to health information, identified a gap in the IPC’s resources and

a need to develop guidelines to assist stakeholders in providing access to health records under the HRIP Act to members of the public,” said Dr Coombs.

Please click below to be directly linked to each resource:

• Checklist for public sector staff: Responding to a request to access health information – Schedule 1, Health Privacy Principle 7 of the HRIP Act
• Checklist for private sector staff: Responding to a request to access health information – Part 4, Division 3 of the HRIP Act
• Fact sheet: Accessing your health information in NSW – for individuals who wish to access health information from NSW public sector agencies, public and private health service providers and organisations that hold health information

“The checklists can be used as a general tool to be read in conjunction with the HRIP Act to assist both private and public sector staff when dealing with requests for access to health information. 

“The fact sheet will assist members of the public to understand their rights when accessing health information from NSW public sector agencies, public and private health service providers and organisations that hold health information,” said Dr Coombs.

The resources are available on the IPC website: www.ipc.nsw.gov.au in the Privacy resources.

INTERVIEWS:
Dr Coombs is available for interviews to discuss privacy issues affecting the NSW community. Please contact Kate Jobling on 0435 961 691 or email ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au to make your request.