From 25 January 2021, nurses, midwives and paramedics employed outside Queensland Health will have access to the Queensland government’s Health Provider Portal (HPP) to view patients’ key public hospital information in The Viewer. 

The ability of nurses and midwives working in private practice arrangements to access The Viewer will ensure clinicians have access to vital clinical information that could impact advice, the treatment provided and continuity of care, as well as reduce unnecessary duplication of tests and procedures. 
 
Click here to read more about this important initiative, including information around privacy safeguards.
 

Accessing patient records – your rights and responsibilities 

QNMU members are reminded that a nurse or midwife’s right to access a patient’s clinical records, whether electronic or paper-based, is restricted to those occasions where there is a legitimate clinical reason for that access, or where their employer has authorised such access.

Depending on the circumstances, inappropriate access to or viewing a patient’s records may lead to your employer taking disciplinary action or AHPRA taking action in relation to your registration. 

We encourage you to read this article, which was published in an earlier edition of InScope. The article covers your rights when accessing patient health records, information on unauthorised access to clinical records, and potential risks for improperly accessing records.