Your health information belongs to you. There are established processes and national digital systems in place to help you access your records, understand what information is available, and continue your care safely and confidently anywhere in Gippsland.
This guide explains how to access your medical records, how My Health Record can help, and what to expect when visiting a new GP or clinic.
Seeing a new GP or clinic
Many people see a new GP at different times in their lives. This is a routine and well-established process.
When booking your first appointment:
- Let the clinic know you are a new patient
- Bring your Medicare card and photo ID
- Bring any concession or health care cards
- Prepare a list of your current medications and dosages
- Note any allergies, past surgeries or chronic conditions
- Write down your key concerns so they can be discussed during your appointment
You may be asked to arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete a new patient registration form.
Transferring your medical records
If you have previously seen another GP, your new clinic can request your records on your behalf.
You will be asked to sign a release form authorising the transfer of your medical information. There may be a fee associated with this process.
Under Australian privacy law, organisations must respond to access requests without unreasonable delay. In most cases, there is a maximum of 45 days to respond to an access request.
You may also request access to your records directly.
More information is available here:
Your right to access your information
Patients have the right to request access to their medical records and to have them transferred to another provider.
Digital services such as My Health Record and the 1800MEDICARE app are designed to support safe, informed and continuous care across Gippsland and Australia.
If you are unsure where to start, speak with your GP clinic, visit the links above for step-by-step guidance, or review the information below about My Health Record and the 1800MEDICARE app.
The role of My Health Record
My Health Record is a secure, national digital summary of key health information. It can include:
- Medicare information
- Prescription history
- Pathology and diagnostic imaging results
- Hospital discharge summaries
- Vaccination history
- Shared health summaries uploaded by your healthcare provider
If you have an active My Health Record, your new GP can access a summary of your key health information immediately, which can assist while full records are being transferred.
If you previously chose not to have a My Health Record, you may wish to consider setting one up (see information below on managing your privacy settings).
To learn what may be included in your record, visit: What is inside My Health Record
To access or set up your record:
- Log in to your myGov account at https://my.gov.au/
- Link Medicare to your myGov account (see instructions)
- Select My Health Record
If you need help, call the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471.
Manage your record
You can update your settings at any time and decide what information is stored and who can access it.
Through your My Health Record profile and settings, you can:
- Manage privacy and access controls
- Set record access codes
- View your access history
- Add or update personal details
- Choose what information is visible
- You can change your preferences at any time
To learn more about managing your record and updating your settings, visit: https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/my-health-record/manage-your-record/profile-and-settings
What is the 1800MEDICARE app?
- Store and manage your electronic prescriptions
- View key health information
- Find and book health services
- Search a symptom checker
- Access Medicare information
- Enrol in Medicare and submit claims
- Connect to digital health services, including My Health Record
It’s fast, easy, and secure – and you can access and share it all from the palm of your hand.
The app is designed to make it easier to access important health and Medicare information in one place. Learn more about the app here: 1800MEDICARE App
If you need help with the 1800MEDICARE app, call the Helpline on 1800 723 471 (Option 1). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
