1. Purpose
The purpose of the Privacy Policy (this Policy) is to provide NSC’s patients with information about how their personal details and health records are used.
2. Background
NSC is a NSW Health Provider in the private sector, bound by the Health Records and Information Act 2002 (NSW) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) . This includes both the Australian Privacy Principles and the NSW Health Privacy Principles.
These principles set the standards by which we handle personal information collected from our patients as we are committed to providing quality health care for our patients and we recognise the importance of ensuring that our patients are fully informed and involved in their health care.
3. What information is held by NSC
As part of our commitment to providing quality health care it is necessary for us to maintain files pertaining to your health. The files contain the following information:
- Personal details (for example your name, address, date of birth, Medicare number)
- Your Medical history
- Notes made during the course of medical consultations
- Referrals to other health providers
- Results and reports received from other health service providers.
4. Who has access to information held by NSC
Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. The file will be accessed by your Medical Practitioner and where necessary by other practitioners in the practice.
It will also be necessary for our administration and reception staff to handle your file to address the administrative requirements of running a medical practice.
Our staff is bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment.
5. Is my information provided to persons external to NSC
At times, it may be necessary to allow external organisations to access our practice and possibly to view medical records. They will obviously be aware of the need to preserve the requirement of the privacy act.
Ordinarily we will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent; however we advise that there may be occasions where we will be required to release details, for example, where the law requires it, such as a subpoena.
This practice does not intend to disclose your personal information to overseas recipients.