BreastScreen NSW privacy
BreastScreen NSW Privacy
BreastScreen NSW is committed to protecting the privacy of your information. We are required by law to protect personal information and comply with the Heath Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 and other relevant legislation relating to confidentiality and privacy. BreastScreen NSW protects privacy by keeping personal information secure from unauthorised access, use or loss.
How do we protect your information privacy?
BreastScreen NSW staff are legally required to protect personal information and comply with all relevant privacy legislation including the Privacy Principles according to the Heath Records and Information Privacy Act 2002.
Your paper record is stored securely at the reading and assessment service connected to the screening centre that you attend. Your electronic information is stored securely at our central database in Sydney.
Only authorised people have access to your information. Legally, your information must be kept for a minimum of seven (7) years.
What information do we collect?
We collect information you provide when you attend BreastScreen such as your name, address, family history, symptoms of breast cancer or special needs you may have.
With your consent, we collect information about any subsequent care and treatment you receive outside the Program that relates to your breast screen. New information is added to your record every time you attend or contact BreastScreen NSW.
When you attend BreastScreen NSW, we ask you to complete and sign the Registration and Consent form(s). You are asked to consent to BreastScreen NSW obtaining your previous breast images and related files for comparison purposes, and also agree that these and your current images and files may be shared with other health service providers for the purpose of your care.
If your previous breast screen was not at a BreastScreen NSW service, we may request your previous images and information for comparison purposes with your consent. This will be done at the time of your registration, if you have not brought the information with you.
Social networking services
We use social networking services such as Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and YouTube to communicate with the public about our work. Comments posted on these services are open to the public.
We will not ever require, or recommend that you post your contact details anywhere on a social networking service that is able to be viewed by the public. The social networking service will also handle your personal information for its own purposes.
This Website Privacy Statement does not extend to social networking services. These sites have their own privacy policies. They also have guidelines for appropriate use when posting information.
How do we use your information and to whom do we disclose it?
We will only use or release information that identifies you with your consent, or where we are required or permitted to do so under law.
The ways in which we may use and disclose your information are set out below.
Health services
We use the information you provide and your screening results, to provide you with the necessary care during your screening episode. We also use your information to send you an invitation for your next breast screen.
With your consent, we will share and release your previous and current images and related files for the purposes of your care in the following situations:
- BreastScreen NSW contracts some private radiology clinics to undertake screening, reading and assessment services. Your information will be shared with them for the purposes of your care. You will attend their premises for your appointment.
- After your breast screen, we will send a letter containing your results to your doctor if you nominate one.
- If you are referred to other health services outside BreastScreen NSW after your breast screen, we will disclose relevant information to them.
- If we have referred you to other health services or, if you have had further breast tests outside the BreastScreen program, we may contact the service to share your information with them, and obtain information about the care and treatment you received.
Your consent to the above arrangements will be requested at registration.
We are required by NSW law to report cases of cancer to the NSW Cancer Registry.
Subpoenaed information may also be provided to a court or tribunal.
Research
Research projects are undertaken to evaluate and improve screening services and to investigate breast disease.
We may contact you and invite you to take part in a research study that uses identifying information. Taking part in this sort of research is always your choice. If you don’t want to participate, this will not affect your ongoing participation in the Program.
Information that does not identify you may be used in research projects. All projects are reviewed and approved by BreastScreen NSW’s research committee.
Market research
Your satisfaction with the service we provide is important to us. BreastScreen NSW regularly conducts research to measure women’s satisfaction with our Program. We may employ an approved company to undertake this research. This information helps us to provide better services. We may also contact you from time to time with information about BreastScreen or to promote the Program.
Taking part in research or marketing activities is your choice. If you do not wish to be contacted for market research please contact BreastScreen NSW to opt out. If you don’t want to participate it will not affect your ongoing participation in the Program.
Other uses
We also use your information to plan, evaluate and improve the quality of our service. If your information is used for these activities, we remove details that identify you. Information that does not identify you may also be disclosed to the government for the monitoring and evaluation of our Program.
Why do we need you to share your information?
The information you share helps us to plan and provide you with the best possible breast screening service. You can decide not to share your information; however, this can affect our ability to identify you and link you to your past breast screens.
Without your previous images or history for comparison, we will not be able to provide you with the best possible service, and you may be recalled unnecessarily for further tests.
How can you access your information?
The Heath Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 and the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) sets out rights to access to your information held by BreastScreen NSW.
If you identify information that is incorrect you can ask that the information be corrected.
If you would like more information on how to request access to your records or to make a complaint about your privacy, please contact the Cancer Institute NSW Privacy Officer on 02 8374 5600 or your Local Health District.