Westmead Doctors is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled securely and responsibly. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
We are committed to protecting the privacy of your personal health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, the Privacy Amendment Act 2012 and the Australian Privacy Principles.
The Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and disclose your personal information. It also includes how you may access that information and how you may seek the correction of any information. It also explains how you may make a complaint about a breach of privacy legislation.
The Privacy Policy is current from July 2014. From time to time, we may make changes to our policy, processes and systems in relation to how we handle your personal information. We will update this Privacy Policy to reflect any changes. Those changes will be available on our website and in the practice.
We collect personal information to provide high-quality medical care and services. The types of personal information we may collect include:
– Name, address, date of birth, and contact details
– Medical history, treatment details, and health information
– Medicare and private health insurance details
– Payment details where applicable
We collect this information directly from you or from authorised third parties, such as other healthcare providers or family members, or for example:
– Other medical practitioners, such as former GPs and specialists
– Other health care providers, such as psychologists, physiotherapists, dentist, nurses, chemists
– Hospitals or day surgery units
– Pathology and radiology practices
All our staff may participate in the collection of this information. In emergency situations we may need to collect personal information from relatives or other sources where we are unable to obtain your prior express consent.
Your personal information is used to:
– Provide medical treatment and care
– Communicate with you regarding your healthcare
– Manage administrative and billing processes
– Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
We may disclose your personal information to:
– Other healthcare professionals involved in your treatment
– Medicare, private health insurers, and relevant government agencies
– Third-party service providers who assist in our operations (e.g., IT services)
– When required by law or in the event of a medical emergency
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Our security measures include:
– Secure electronic medical record systems
– Restricted access to patient information
– Regular staff training on data privacy
You have the right to access your personal information and request corrections if necessary. To make a request, please contact our reception team. Proof of identity may be required before access is granted. There may be a fee for the administrative costs of retrieving and providing you with copies of your medical records.
If you have any concerns about the handling of your personal information, you can contact us at:
Westmead Doctors
Shop 6, Coles Westmead, 29 – 33 Darcy Road, Westmead NSW 2145
Phone: (02) 9687 4000
Email: info@westmeaddoctors.com.au
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.
This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements and our practices. The latest version will always be available on our website.
