What are health records?

Health records may include:

We update your child's details each time they go to hospital or another Children’s Health Queensland facility. Their records are private and confidential and can be kept in an electronic system, in a paper file or both.

How to access your child's health record

There are 2 ways you can request access to your child’s health record.

  1. Make an Information Privacy Application or under Administrative Access.
  2. Email your request to the Health Information Access Unit for a summary of clinical information to be sent to your GP.

You can also find a summary of clinical information on your child’s My Health Record.

Make a formal Information Privacy Application or Administrative Access Application

All requests require the following:

  1. Be in writing.
  2. Contain enough details about the documents being requested to enable the CHQ HHS to identify the relevant documents.
  3. Reason for seeking copy of record and specific information required.
  4. The full name and date of birth of the patient whose record is sought. Certified identification for the person making the request (the document copy must be signed by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations as a true copy of the original). Any of the following is considered a form of identification:
  5. If seeking a child's record:
  6. Signature, date, phone contact and address where record is to be sent.

Potential applicants should be encouraged to contact Health Information Access (CHQ_HIA@health.qld.gov.au) prior to applying, to confirm compliance requirements.

If an application does not comply with the above requirements, the CHQ HHS will make reasonable efforts to contact the applicant within fifteen (15) business days of receiving the application and advise the applicant accordingly and provide them with an opportunity to make changes or do anything necessary to make the application complaint.

All requests must be directed in writing to:
Executive Director Medical Services
c/o Health Information Access
Health Information Services
Level 6
Queensland Children's Hospital
501 Stanley Street (PO Box 5474) South Brisbane QLD 4101

Read more about the Information Privacy process.

What happens next

We'll decide if we can give you access to your child's health record under the Information Privacy Act 2009. This may take up to 25 business days. We'll let you know if we need more time to process your application.

If we can't give you access

If we can't give you access to your child's information, we'll give you a decision notice explaining why. We'll also tell you how you can ask for our decision to be reviewed if you don't agree with it.

Read more about your review rights on the Office of the Information Commissioner Queensland website.

Australian Government My Health Record

Your child will also have a My Health Record. This is a safe and secure place to keep your child's health information, and includes their:

This is a national system so if you move interstate, see different healthcare providers, or go to emergency, your child's health information is always available.

Find out how to access or set up your child's My Health Record on the Australian Digital Health Agency website.

What information can my child’s care team provide?

Your child’s clinical team can share information with you about your child’s current care or admission including:

Contact us

Contact us if you'd like more information about making an information privacy request or if you need help filling in the application form.

Health Information Services