Eastern Health is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of every individual

Eastern Health complies with relevant laws to protect the privacy of your information. We have strict policies on how we collect, store, use and disclose patient information. Only those directly involved in your care, such as your doctor, nurses and other healthcare professionals, can access and use your health information and only to provide you with treatment and care. Sometimes, we may need to share your information with your General Practitioner (GP), another hospital, or other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

Access to our records and computer systems is carefully controlled and monitored. The systems we use have security passwords, and all staff members must follow our privacy and confidentiality policies, and a strict code of conduct. Regular audits are conducted to ensure there is no unauthorised access to patient records.

Eastern Health will only collect information that is necessary to provide health care and related services. This includes:

  • Your demographic details, such as your name, date of birth, and contact information
  • The contact details of your General Practitioner (GP) and any nominated representatives
  • Your Medicare Card details
  • Details about your healthcare, which may include information from other healthcare providers if necessary.

If your contact information or your GP’s details change, please let us know during your next visit. This will help us stay in touch about your ongoing healthcare needs.

Eastern Health will only use or share your information for the primary reason it was collected, or for a secondary purpose if you would reasonably expect us to do so. There are exceptions when laws require us to disclose your information without your consent.

For any other reasons, we will need your consent before using or sharing your information.

Your information may be used to provide you with health care and treatment, as well as to support your overall care. Here are some examples of how we might use your information:

  • Making decisions about your care to ensure effective treatment
  • Inviting you to participate in research projects
  • Providing health education
  • Conducting surveys about your visit to Eastern Health
  • Planning for improvements in our services through careful planning
  • Requesting donations for Eastern Health Foundation

Eastern Health may need to share your information with external service providers to support your ongoing healthcare and ensure you receive the best care. This may include sharing information with:

  • Your General Practitioner (GP)
  • Other healthcare providers, such as specialists or hospitals
  • Patient transport services
  • Community services
  • Local council services

Eastern Health and the Department of Health utilise a secure electronic health information system called CareSync Exchange to collect and share information, enabling authorised staff to access patient health data across the Victorian public health system. This includes personal details such as your name, date of birth, and address, as well as crucial health information about the treatments you’ve received. This system helps ensure you receive safe and effective care while supporting your ongoing clinical needs. For more information, please refer to the CareSync Exchange Privacy Management Framework at this link or visit our CareSync Exchange webpage.

Eastern health may also send information to your My Health Record if you have one. For more information, visit our My Health Record webpage.

We may also share your information in the following situations:

  • If we are required by subpoena, we provide information to courts.
  • We report statistical information to government funding bodies, which may include your details.
  • We submit mandatory information to the Department of Health or other registries, such as the Victorian Cancer Registry.
  • We will release information if required by law, such as under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme or for quality and safety purposes.
  • If you have an implanted device (such as a pacemaker or hip replacement), we may share your details with the manufacturer or supplier for safety reasons.

First, you can check your My Health Record to see if the information you need has been uploaded by Eastern Health. If you require details from a recent admission to be sent to your GP or treating practitioner for continuity of care, please contact the Release of Information (ROI) team either via phone (03) 9871-3655 or email at [email protected].

You can also apply to access your Eastern Health patient records under the Freedom of Information Act. Additionally, you have the right to request an amendment to information about you if you believe the information we hold about you is incorrect, incomplete, outdated, or misleading.

For more details, visit our Freedom of Information webpage.

You can view Eastern Health’s detailed privacy brochure on our website here or you can request a hard copy from us.

If you have any questions or feedback about how we manage your privacy, please let us know by contacting our Centre for Patient Experience. You can submit an online form here, call us on 1800 EASTERN (1800 327 8376) or email us at [email protected].