❓ Hon Sue Ellery inquires about cross-border agreements for sharing medical and mental health records between Australian states, particularly regarding patient referrals based on family concerns. The response indicates limited agreements exist, primarily for forensic and involuntary orders, and highlights the need for patient consent for information release.
AnsweredQoN 5695Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What cross border agreements are in place or operating to link medical and mental health records between States in Australia?
(2) If none, are there any plans to implement such a system so that, for example, if family members are concerned about the mental health of a patient who has moved interstate, they can contact the corresponding agency in the new state and refer them to a patient's history?
(2) If none, are there any plans to implement such a system so that, for example, if family members are concerned about the mental health of a patient who has moved interstate, they can contact the corresponding agency in the new state and refer them to a patient's history?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
63 days
(1) Jurisdictional Cross Border agreements are in place where legislation supports this and currently progressed between different jurisdictions. These agreements relate to patients on Forensic Custody Orders and Involuntary Orders. The cross border agreements have variations according to the different inter-jurisdictional arrangements. No arrangements are in place to link medical and mental health records between any States and/or Territories in Australiawithout the patient's consent.
(2) Family members can alert interstate mental health services of concerns they may have about a relative. Mental Health Services in Western Australiacan release patient information to any agency with the patient's written consent.
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(2) Family members can alert interstate mental health services of concerns they may have about a relative. Mental Health Services in Western Australiacan release patient information to any agency with the patient's written consent.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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