Transfer of Medical Records

To ensure that you receive the highest level of medical care we will maintain your medical records within our clinic. We will not provide records to any third party without your consent or if compelled by law.

The current Australian Medical Association Guidelines for the transfer of medical records are as follows:

  1. To ensure appropriate ongoing care, when a patient transfers to other medical practitioners, medical practitioners should, when asked by a patient, make available either a copy of the original record or a summary. The reasonable cost for this service should be borne by the patient.
  2. While records containing patient medical information do not belong to the patient, the patient has a legal right to access those records.
  3. When a patient requests that his/her records be made available to another medical practitioner, a medical practitioner should act on that request.
  4. Medical practitioners are under no obligation to provide their original records. These should be retained by the practitioner who created them.
  5. A copy of a patient’s record may be sent to the patient’s new practitioner. Depending on the size and/or complexity of the record, medical practitioners may wish to provide a health summary instead, if the patient agrees.
  6. Copies of test results and other investigations, including plans of management should be made available. Copies of clinical reports from other medical practitioners about the patient may be included.
  7. Doctors should be entitled to recover from the patient or from any other legally authorised person or authority requesting the information, the reasonable cost of providing access to the information contained in a medical record.
  • Please complete the “Transfer of Medical Records Request” form below or come to our clinic if you prefer to complete a paper based form in person.
  • We will fax/email the request directly to your previous clinic on your behalf
  • There may be a fee charged by your old clinic for the transfer of medical records which you will need to pay.
  • Once records from your old clinic have been received we will upload them to our records so that your doctor will have access to your records at your next consultation
  • Please complete a transfer of medical record request from your old clinic.
  • You can then present the form in person, via fax, or via email to Newdegate Street Health Centre
  • Your health summary will then be sent to for free to your new health provider
  • If you wish to transfer your full records, they will be sent via registered post and will be charge $35+gst for digital records or $38 for 33 pages + $1.40/page thereafter for printed records, as per AMA recommendations. Cost of registered post will be passed on at cost.
  • Requests will be completed within 28 days upon receipt of “Transfer of Medical Records Request” form.