Following your release from care at the end of a health care service, NSLHD is required to complete a discharge summary. This summary is automatically provided to your nominated GP and uploaded to My Health Record where you can access information about the health care you received.

More information about My Health Record can be foundhere.

If you require more information than what is in My Health Record, you can request a copy of your health care record. To do so you must complete both of the following:

1. ​Application for access to clinical information and
2. Provide relevant supporting documentation, e.g. current Australian passport or current Australian driver's licence, or two proofs of identification containing a photograph, signature, and current address details
   

Detailed information about the documentation required for your application can be found on the Application for Access to Clinical Information form.

For applications requiring the submission of a statutory declaration, per the Application for Access to Clinical Information form, please use the below:

• ​​Statutory Declaration – Custody or Access Orders
• ​​Statutory Declaration – Will​
  

On this page:

Is there a fee to obtain a copy of my health care record?​

How long will it take to get my health care record?

Can I view my health care record?

Other types of application forms available for assistance by HIS

What if my health care record personal details are not correct?

How do I get government information (excluding health care records)?

Other health care records that you can access via NSLHD

​Patient records of the former assisted reproductive technology clinic (IVF/ART Clinic)​​

Can I view my health care record?

If you wish to view your health care record, pleasecontact us here to arrange an appointment. There is no fee to view your record, however an application form and supporting documentation will be required to confirm your identity and authority to view the health care record.

During your appointment a HIS representative or a clinician will sit with you and be available to respond to questions about your record.

Please note HIS personnel are not qualified clinicians and are unable to answer clinical questions about the care provided by the health care facility.

What if my health care record personal details are not correct?

If you believe your personal details are missing or incorrect on your health record (or a health record belonging to a third party) you can apply to have it corrected. You are permitted to make amendments to ensure information in the health record is accurate, up-to-date, complete and not misleading.

Applications can be made by the patient, a child’s parent or carer or an authorised representative.

Your request should be addressed either to health information services (refer to page 2 of the form below) or to the manager of the health service facility you attended. Pleasecontact us here

​​Notification of change of patient details

To request changes e.g. name, date of birth, sex, person to contact and GP details.

How do I get government information (excluding health care records)?

The right to information system in NSW aims to foster responsible and representative government that is open, accountable, fair and effective. Information on accessing government information can be foundhere.

Patient records of the former assisted reproductive technology clinic (IVF/ART Clinic)

In 2015, Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) conducted an internal audit and external investigation into the record management of the former Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Clinic between 1977 and 1984.

The external investigation found that in this period, assisted reproductive treatment clinical practices were in their early phase and there were no formal documented policies or chief legislation regarding sperm donors. It found that at that time, sperm donors were given a guarantee of anonymity. As such, the clinic had formulated an approach to record management, which included a considered policy of removing donor codes by clinic staff.

These actions preceded the Artificial Conception Act of 1984 and the investigation concluded there were valid reasons for the removal of the sperm donor codes to protect the ‘good faith agreement’ of ensuring the anonymity of sperm donors unconditionally. The permanent removal of these sperm donor codes does prevent the identity of a sperm donor from being identified.

NSLHD deeply regrets any distress the results of this investigation caused for those who were patients of the former ART Clinic, as well as their donor-conceived children.

Whilst NSLHD are unable to rectify the record management that occurred, we encourage former clinic patients with concerns about their health care records to contact us here to have their record reviewed.​

NSLHD assures former patients that the records will be permanently preserved with a do not destroy date applied to ensure destruction does not occur. In addition, the sperm donor records and donor register, which were uncovered during the investigation and separate to the health care records, will be sent to State Records for secure storage alongside donor recipient files.