Frequently asked questions and information

Jewells Medical Centre has developed a privacy policy in compliance with the Federal Privacy Act in all areas relating to patients personal information.

This surgery 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.
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 ( 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.

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 staff to handle your file to address the administrative requirements of running a medical practice. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment.
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.
We advise that as a patient of this practice, you have rights of access to any information we hold concerning you. Should you wish to access this information, we refer you to our handout entitled “accessing your medical record”
Should you at any time, have a complaint in relation to the policies of this practice, they should be made in writing, addressed to your doctor, marked “private and confidential”, and it will be attended to as soon as possible.

Jewells Medical Centre has developed policies in relation to the recognition of the rights of patients attending our practice.

We seek to always address each consultation and contact with our patients in a non-discriminatory manner. Our doctors seek to be alert to and recognise any indications that their patient has any concerns or reservations about the conduct of their consultation or their treatment.

All our staff seek to treat all people coming into contact with our practice with care and respect.

We recognise the right of all people to make their own decisions regarding their health, including the right to refuse treatment or advice, and the right to seek a second or further opinion. Our doctors will facilitate this by seeking to provide their patients with adequate information regarding their treatment and their options to enable them to make informed decisions. Our doctors encourage our patients to discuss their concerns and invite them to have follow up visits to discuss the outcomes of their treatment and other consultations for example after specialist appointments.

If you have any concerns about your treatment at our practice, we encourage you to contact your doctor directly in writing in an envelope marked "private and confidential", and we will respond promptly.

If you prefer you may contact the Health Care Complaints Commission

Locked Bag 18
STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2012

Telephone: (02) 9219 7444