This page is about how we maintain health records for our patients. Please read it to understand how health information works and how patients can access and request their health records.

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The Neighbourhood Clinic maintains health records for our patients. These may include personal information, medical history, consultation notes, pathology/radiology results, referrals and specialist letters. 

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You have a right to access your health information. Generally, this is requested when you are changing GP clinics, and wish to provide your new GP with your records from The Neighbourhood Clinic. In limited circumstances when the information could be thought harmful for the patient or others, The Neighbourhood Clinic can refuse to provide access to some parts of a heath record, as permitted by law. 

 

We would usually transfer your health information directly to your new GP clinic, at their request. Your new GP clinic will request the information they need to ensure a smooth handover of your care. Your new GP clinic will have a process for requesting your health information from us which you can discuss with them. 

 

If you are a new patient to The Neighbourhood Clinic and want to request your health information from your previous clinic, then please ask our Reception team for a Medical Record Transfer Request form. 

 

There is no fee to request access to your health information. In some instances, there may be a fee charged to you by The Neighbourhood Clinic for our time in collating your health information to provide to you or your new clinic. Any fee we propose to charge can be discussed with the relevant GP, and is intended to only cover the administrative costs of our team completing the task. The fees are not covered by Medicare or health funds. There is more information about access to health information and maximum fees for access here https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/legislation/health-records-act. 

 

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Indicative Fees for Accessing Your Health Records 

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A. Request for a Basic Health Summary: Free 

B. Request for specified health information (eg. an Xray result): Free 

C. Request for complete patient record (not curated or summarised): $31.30 (plus GST). This may be of limited benefit to your new clinic unless your new doctor has requested extensive records. 

D. Request for detailed curated information, notes and correspondence prepared by the GP: $40-$100 (plus GST) dependant on the GPs time required / complexity of the record. This may be useful if you have had complex care at our clinic. It can provide a high quality clinical handover for your new doctor, which may contribute to a smooth transition of your care. 

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If you require the records in hard copy and postage is required, the postage cost will be charged in addition to the above.

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The Neighbourhood Clinic reserves the right to waive or vary any fee in accordance with the relevant legislation, depending on your circumstances. If you are experiencing financial hardship, or would like to discuss your request with our team, please let us know if your request. 

 

 

Requesting Access to Your Health Records 

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The Neighbourhood Clinic requires all requests for health information to be in writing, and proof of your identification must be provided. In the first instance, you or your new GP clinic should send an email to info@theneighbourhood.clinic, setting out what health information is being requested. We will respond to your request as soon as we can, but it may take up to 30 days.