What are health records?

Your health records may be in an electronic system, in a paper file or a mix of both and may include:

  • test results, x-rays and scans
  • medical conditions and treatments
  • reports and letters from doctors and specialists
  • medical, nursing and allied health notes.

We update your details each time you visit a hospital or health facility.

Your records are private and confidential.

How to access your health records

Your health records belong to the hospital or health centre that has them, but you can look at them or apply for a copy.

Apply for a copy of your records

It's free to access your health record or change your personal information.

You can apply for a copy of your health records by filling in our application for administrative access to health records form [PDF 180 KB]. Send us the form with proof of your identity or give it to the main service desk at the hospital that treated you.

Proof of identity

You'll need to include a certified copy of one of the following documents:

  • passport
  • driver’s licence
  • adult proof of age card
  • birth certificate or extract from a register of births

If you don't have any of these identity documents, talk to our information access unit. We may be able to accept a certified copy of another document.

Information access unit

We'll try to process your request within 25 working days.

If some of the information we have about you is wrong, you can ask us to fix it. Use the personal information amendment application form on the Right to Information website.

You can also ask the hospital that treated you for a copy of the form.

Email it to the hospital that treated you. If we can't release your records, we'll tell you why.

How to access someone else’s health records

To apply for access to someone else's health records you’ll need to make a right to information or information privacy application.

You can apply by:

With consent

If you're applying for someone's health records on their behalf with their consent, you should make an information privacy application.

There's no application fee.

You’ll need to include a certified copy of their proof of identity and their written permission. It must be an original document, and they’ll need to sign and date it.

Without consent

If you can't get their consent, you should make a right to information application.

You'll need to pay an application fee.

Sharing your records with your GP

After you've been in hospital, your GP may want to see your hospital records, scans, test results and other records. They use these for your ongoing care and treatment.

GPs can register to have online access to medical records and patient information from Queensland Health systems.

These may include:

  • pathology and radiology results
  • medicines
  • allergies and alerts
  • care plans and discharge summaries.

If you don’t want your GP to access your information, you can opt out online or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

Australian Government My Health Record

My Health Record is a safe and secure place to keep your health information. You and your healthcare providers can access it at any time, including in an emergency.

You may be able to see your discharge summary, pathology reports and x-ray reports online if you've:

  • had a recent hospital stay
  • set up your My Health Record.

Sign in to your myGov account to manage your My Health Record.

You can learn more about My Health Record on the Australian Digital Health Agency website.

Last updated: March 2025

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