Privacy and managing health information in general practice

Information management for patients

Collection of health information

  1. References

Last revised: 24 May 2023

Collection of health information

Patients should be notified about how their information might be used or disclosed and what rights of access they will have.
 

Key points: Collection of health information

  • Your practice should not collect health information unless the patient consents and the information is required for the delivery of healthcare.
  • Your practice must collect personal information in an ethical and fair manner (without being intrusive or using methods of intimidation).
  • Consent is not required where::
    • the health information is collected in accordance with the policy and framework established by ‘competent health or medical bodies’7
    • it is unreasonable to seek it and the collection is necessary to ‘lessen or prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety’ of an individual or the public7
    • other exceptions also apply.
  • Unsolicited information (received without asking) must be destroyed, unless your practice would typically and ethically collect that information.


Receiving health information from third parties

While GPs obtain most health information directly from the patient (and should do so wherever possible), they also receive information from third parties; including guardians or other health professionals involved in the patient’s care.

Where personal information is received without the GP asking for it, GPs need to consider whether they would have usually collected that information. If not, the information should be destroyed or de-identified.

 

  1. [Accessed 7 November 2022].
  2. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  3. [Accessed 7 November 2022].
  4. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  5. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  6. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  7. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  8. [Accessed 8 November 2022].
  9. [date unknown] [Accessed 8 November 2022].
  10. [date unknown] [Accessed 16 January 2023].
  11. [Accessed 16 January 2023].
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