What are health records?
Your records may include:
- test results, x-rays and scans
- diagnosis and treatments
- reports and letters from doctors and specialists
- surgical, nursing and allied health notes.
We update your details each time you visit a health facility.
Your medical records may be kept in an electronic system, in a paper file or a mix of both.
Your records are private and confidential.
How to access your health record
Your health record is the property of the hospital or health centre that has them. However, you can look at them or get a copy.
There's no charge to access your health records.
If some of the information we have about you is wrong, you can ask us to fix it.
Apply for a copy of your record
You can apply for a copy of your health record by filling in the administrative access application form [PDF 85 KB].
You'll need to include a certified copy of one of the following documents.
- Passport
- Birth certificate or extract from a register of births
- Driver’s licence
If the applicant is a prisoner, they can use a copy of their identity card certified by a corrective services officer.
If you don't have any of these identity documents, talk to our Release of Information Unit. We may be able to accept another document.
Send the completed form and proof of your identity by email cqhhs.roi.privacy@health.qld.gov.au or post to the:
Release of Information Unit
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service
PO Box 871
Rockhampton Qld 4700.
We'll try to process your request in 15 working days.
If we can't release your records, we'll contact you and explain why.
How to access someone else’s health record
To access someone else's health records, use the same steps as above. You'll need to have written permission from the person to access their records. It must be an original document and they'll need to sign and date it. You may need to provide more information.
If you don’t have or can’t get their consent, you'll need to make a right of information request.
We publish requests for non-personal documents, released under the Right to Information Act 2009, on our disclosure log.
Sharing your hospital medical records with another doctor
After you've been in hospital, your doctor may want to see your hospital records, scans, test results and other records. They use these for your ongoing care and treatment.
Doctors can register to have online access to medical records and patient information from Queensland Health systems.
These may include:
- pathology and radiology results
- medications
- allergies and alerts
- care plans and discharge summaries.
If you don’t want your doctor to have access to your information, you can opt out online or by calling 13 43 25 84.