Privacy

Information about you is collected from you to enable us to provide deliver health services to you and provide the best possible and safest care.

Information about you may be disclosed to your GP or referring health care professional for continuity of care, where required by law or with your consent, 

Hospitals within the Grampians Region, including Grampians Health Ballarat, have a shared electronic medical record.  This means if you attend more than one hospital within the region, clinicians involved in your care may access information from these hospitals.  Sharing of clinical information will assist in providing better care and services to you. 

You have a right, in most circumstances, to refuse permission for disclosure or sharing of your information.  Please advise your treating clinician or Health Information Services 5320 4227 of your wishes.  You need to be aware that not disclosing information to others involved in your care, may impact your care.

Further information is available in our Privacy Brochure Protection and Use of Your Health Information below.

From 1 July 2024, Grampians Health is required to collect and report on a patient’s gender and pronouns as well as their sex at birth. 

These changes are being made so we have the right information to provide clinically appropriate and inclusive healthcare. 

For our patients, this means you may be asked additional questions when you first come to our service, such as: 

• What was your sex recorded at birth? 
• How do you describe your gender? 
• Can I ask what pronouns you use? 

For some people, gender and sex at birth will be the same. For some people, it will be different. 

This information will help make our healthcare services safer, fairer and more inclusive for everyone. 

We understand that this may be uncomfortable or confronting for some people. You do have the option to decline to answer. 

Please note that this change will initially only be reflected in our registration system, and this information may not be available to other staff as you progress through your care. We are working to align our systems, to ensure all necessary staff can access the most up-to-date information and refer to their patients by the correct gender and pronouns. 

If you are concerned, please contact www.grampianshealth.org.au/contact-us/

For more information about how your data is being used, speak to your healthcare team.