Dr Geoff Forbes

Gastroenterologist

Privacy policy and principles

This medical practice is committed to best practice in relation to the management of information we collect, and adheres to the March 2014 privacy law reform which introduced Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) into the Privacy Act 1988. As part of our commitment to compliance with the Act, the following questions are relevant:

How do we collect and hold personal and sensitive information?

We will generally collect personal information:


  1. from you directly when you provide your details to us;
  2. from a person responsible for you, or
  3. from third parties where the Privacy Act or other law allows it


Information is held both in written and electronic format.
 
Why do we collect, hold, use and disclose personal and sensitive information?

In general, we may collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information for the following purposes:


  1. to provide health services to you. This will include corresponding with your referring doctor, and doctors as required to manage your health and medical well-being
  2. to communicate with you
  3. to comply with our legal obligations which may include mandatory notification of communicable  diseases
  4. to help us manage our accounts and administrative services.


Information is only disclosed to overseas recipients under the above scenarios.

What is the risk of withholding personal and sensitive information?

In general, the greatest risk to you is our ability to provide the highest level medical care.

How can you access and correct your personal and sensitive information?

Subject to the exceptions set out in the Privacy Act, you may seek access to, or correct, your personal information which we hold. Contact can be made with reception on (08) 9448 0807.

Is your personal and sensitive information secure? How can you make a privacy related complaint?

We take reasonable steps to protect the security of your information and comply with our legal obligations. Our staff are trained and required to respect your privacy. We take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect information held from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. If you have any questions about privacy-related issues or wish to complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles or the handling of your personal information by us, please contact the reception staff.

Patient consent to our collection of information

Consent to this policy is inferred and implied (in other words, does not require a signature), unless you communicate otherwise.
 
Updates to this Policy


This Policy will be reviewed from time to time to take account of new laws and technology, changes to our operations and other necessary developments.


​Last updated December 2020