Medical Records
For patients requiring a copy of your recent discharge summary, please call the Western Health switchboard on (03) 8345 6666 and ask to be transferred to Medical Records.
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act) provides a statutory right to the public to access documents held by Western Health, unless an exception or exemption applies. This includes access to medical records by or on behalf of patients.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests
How to make an FOI application to Western Health
A valid request under the FOI Act must include the following:
an application in writing;
payment of the application fee of $30.60 (GST exempt); and
be sufficiently clear to identify the documents sought.
You can download a copy of FOI Application Form 2023
Western Health has a duty to assist applicants to make a compliant request and will consult with an applicant before refusing a non-compliant request.
The application fee may be waived or reduced on request by an applicant, for example, on the basis of financial hardship. The FOI Team may request evidence of hardship to be provided, such as a health care card or concession card.
Additional charges apply which relate to search and copy fees, which can also be waived or reduced in relevant circumstances.
A decision regarding access to documents held by Western Health under the FOI Act (Decision) is made no later than 30 days following receipt of a valid request.
Contact
Please contact the FOI Team with your FOI queries on email [email protected] or mail to Freedom of Information (FOI), Western Health, Locked Bag 2, Footscray, VIC 3012. Alternatively, you may call the team on03 8345 6352 between 11am and 12pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays. To prioritise request processing, we are not able to answer phone calls outside these limited times.
Other Health Services Based at Western Health Hospitals
Our website provides information about our sites and services.
Western Health also works in partnership with a number of organisations to provide mental health services onsite at Footscray Hospital and Sunshine Hospital. If an FOI request solely relates to a service provided by one of the mental health services listed until 30 June 2023, please contact the relevant service directly.
Decision review rights
Applicants have a right to challenge a Decision of an FOI Officer and a right of complaint to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) within 28 days of the day an applicant receives notification of the Decision. https://ovic.vic.gov.au/
Applicants also have a right to apply to the Health Services Commissioner for conciliation where the documents requested contain health information relating to the applicant. https://hcc.vic.gov.au/
