Right to information in Western Sydney

Hospital records

For assistance to access hospital records contact the Health Information and Record Service on (02) 8890 6488 or email WSLHD-ROI@health.nsw.gov.au.

Community health records

For assistance to access community health records contact the Community Health Centre directly. 

You can make a written request on your letterhead and provide a signed consent with your request.

Hospital records

If you wish to subpoena a health care record from a WSLHD hospital, send the subpoena directly to the Health Information and Record Service in the hospital.  

Community health records

If you wish to subpoena a health care record from a Community Health Centre, send the subpoena directly to the Community Health Centre. 

A formal application for information must:

• Be in writing. A formal request may be made with the application form provided by WSLHD GIPA Act Access Application Form (DOC 260KB).
• Clearly indicate that it is an access application made under the GIPA Act.
• Be accompanied by a fee of $30.00 which may be reduced by 50% in cases of financial hardship or for special benefit to the public.
• State a postal address in Australia as the address for correspondence in connection with the application.
• Include enough information to enable the information requested to be identified.

Processing charges may also apply, however, if there will be considerable additional costs incurred by your formal access application under the GIPA Act, you will be advised of the estimated costs before the work starts.

WSLHD may ask for a 50% advance deposit from you if the cost estimated for the work to be undertaken is an amount that exceeds the application fee. If you do not pay this deposit WSLHD may not proceed with the request.

Once a WSLHD officer has made a decision on your access application you will be notified of the outcome of your request. If access is not provided, either in whole or in part because there is an overriding public interest against disclosure, you will be advised of the reasons for this decision.

You can post your application form to or lodge it with:

Right to Information Coordinator
Western Sydney Local Health District
Building 60, Pine Cottage
Cumberland Hospital
Locked Bag 7118
Parramatta CBD 2124

By email: WSLHD-GIPA@health.nsw.gov.au

You have a right to request a review of a decision regarding the release of information if you disagree with any of the decisions specified in section 80 of the GIPA Act.

More information about your review rights can be found on the Information and Privacy Commission website.

A request for an internal review, by WSLHD, should be made using the WSLHD GIPA Internal Review Form (PDF 112.52KB) or in a letter.

For further information please contact the WSLHD Right to Information Coordinator on (02) 8860 2550 or by email WSLHD-GIPA@health.nsw.gov.au.

You can download a copy of the WSLHD Privacy Information for patients/clients leaflet (PDF 70.74KB).
 

Our doctors, nurses and other staff are required by law, by the NSW Health Privacy Manual for Health Information and by a strict Code of Conduct to maintain the privacy of patient health information.  For more information about how WSLHD collects, stores, uses and discloses your health information, refer to the WSLHD privacy information for patient or clients leaflet (PDF 70.74KB).

WSLHD collects your health information so that we can provide you with treatment and advice. Test results and other information that is collected while you are being treated is kept with your health record. WSLHD only collects information that is necessary and relevant for your treatment and to manage the health services we provide.

Occasionally, it may be necessary to collect information about you from other health professionals who are involved in your care.  In an emergency and in some circumstances, it may be necessary for us to collect information from a family member, friend, carer or other person who can help us to provide you with the best care.

If you do not wish for us to collect certain information about you, you need to tell us and we will discuss with you any consequences this may have for your health care.

The health information WSLHD collects about patients is held in a health care record that may be both paper and electronic and may include visual images and audio formats.  WSLHD takes reasonable steps to make sure that the health information we collect about patients is stored securely.  

WSLHD is required by law to retain health records for certain periods of time, depending on the type of record and facility.  WSLHD has appropriate systems and policies in place to protect patient health information from loss, unauthorised access and misuse.

All staff are required by law and ethical practice to keep patient health information confidential.  WSLHD will use or disclose your health information for purposes directly related to your care, and in ways that you would reasonably expect for your current and future health care.

Your health information will be shared with the staff involved in your care, so that they can determine the best treatment for you and to assist us to manage the health services we provide to you.

Relevant information about the health care you have received will be sent to your nominated GP, unless you request otherwise.

Where necessary, and permitted by law, health information may be sent to other treating health care professionals, health services or hospitals involved in your care, to the Ambulance Service of NSW, to a specialist for a referral, for pathology tests, x-rays and so on.

WSLHD may be required to disclose some health information to Courts and Tribunals and to State and Commonwealth government agencies to comply with laws regarding the reporting of notifiable diseases and statistics, and for the registering of births and deaths.  Your health information may be required as evidence in court and may be subpoenaed for this purpose.

WSLHD may use or disclose health information for billing and other purposes required for the operation of the NSW Health Service, including safety and quality improvement initiatives.  Where relevant, it is possible that WSLHD disclose health information to Medicare, private health funds, the Department of Veterans

You are entitled to request access to the information WSLHD holds about you, including your health record.

Please refer to the following documents for information about how WSLHD complies with privacy law:

• NSW Health Privacy Manual

Other privacy resources that you may find useful:

• Summary of Health Privacy Principles (HPPs)
• Summary of Information Privacy Principles (IPPs)
• NSW Health Privacy Management Plan
• Privacy Internal Review Guidelines NSW Health

If you have a complaint relating to your privacy or if you believe a health service provider has breached your privacy you can make a formal complaint using the attached form.

• Privacy Internal Review Information Sheet (PDF 155.96KB)
• Privacy Internal Review Application Form (PDF 171.89KB)

Your complaint will be investigated as an Internal Review.  If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may lodge an appeal with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, who will further investigate your complaint.

Contact 02 8860 2550 or email privacy@health.nsw.gov.au 

• Privacy Management Annual Report 2024- 2025 (PDF 323.43KB)
• Privacy Management Annual Report 2023 - 2024  (PDF 122.58KB)

• WSLHD Application for Health Care Records Form (PDF 391.03KB)
• WSLHD Privacy Internal Review Application Form (DOC 275KB)
• WSLHD GIPA Act Access Form (DOC 260KB)
• WSLHD GIPA Act Internal Review Application Form (PDF 222.36KB)

• WSLHD Privacy Internal Review Information Sheet (PDF 159.94KB)
• IPC Your Review Rights Under the GIPA Act 

• Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009
• Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2009
• Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998
• Privacy and Personal Information Protection Regulation 2005
• Privacy Code of Practice (General) 2003
• NSW Health - Privacy Manual for Health Information 

Interested parties may access copies of the information listed by contacting the Right to Information Coordinator on (02) 8860 2550 or via email WSLHD-GIPA@health.nsw.gov.au.

Interested parties may access copies of the information listed by contacting the Right to Information Coordinator on (02) 8860 2550 or via email WSLHD-GIPA@health.nsw.gov.au.

Interested parties may access copies of the information listed by contacting the Right to Information Coordinator on (02) 8860 2550 or via email WSLHD-GIPA@health.nsw.gov.au.
 

NSW Health maintains a Gifts of Government Property Register in line with the requirements of the Treasurer's Direction TD21-04: Gifts of Government Property. This direction outlines:

• the circumstances in which a government property gift may be made
• the values and principles that must guide such decisions
• the requirement for agencies to keep accurate records of gifts made.

All NSW Health entities must certify that the information in this register is accurate and complete.
If a NSW Health entity is not listed in the register, it means the entity didnot make any gifts of government property valued at more than $10,000 during the reporting period.

NSW Health also maintains aStatutory Acts of Grace Register, in accordance with Treasury Circular TC22-01: Statutory Act of Grace Payments. This circular sets out:

• when a statutory act of grace payment may be made
• the delegation powers associated with such payments
• the obligation for GSF agencies to keep records of these payments.

All NSW Health entities must certify the accuracy and completeness of this register.
If a NSW Health entity is not listed, it indicates that the entity did not make any statutory act of grace payments during the reporting period.

You can access both registers on NSW Health Gifts of Government Property and Statutory Acts of Grace registers.

For a report to be treated as a public interest disclosure at WSLHD, all the following must apply:

• The reporter is an employee of WSLHD, or otherwise works with WSLHD.
• The report is about the conduct of another WSLHD employee, or someone working with WSLHD.
• The reporter honestly believes, on reasonable grounds, that the information shows or may show wrongdoing.
• The report involves one or more of the following:
  • corrupt conduct
  • a government information contravention
  • a privacy contravention
  • serious and substantial waste of public money
  • a local government pecuniary interest contravention.

You are encouraged to send your report to WSLHD-InternalAudit@health.nsw.gov.au.

Reports can be made verbally or in writing. However, written reports are strongly encouraged to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.

A WSLHD Internal Reporting Form (DOCX 244.08KB) is available to help you prepare your report.

You can also contact a WSLHD disclosure officer.