General News
28 May, 2025
Cross border medical records an “objective” not a reality
Checking medical records
Broke a leg and attended Stanthorpe Hospital? Good luck getting your medical records across the border when it’s time for a check up with your local GP. The current file-sharing system used in NSW does not transfer health information outside of NSW.
This has caused an issue for residents of both Tenterfield Shire and the Southern Downs have experienced issues getting medical records over the border. The issue affects Tenterfield Shire more heavily, yet the problem is not being addressed.
NSW has rolled out the Single Digital Patient Record this year, which allows for patient records to be available to doctors and hospitals across the state. However, the SDPR does not address records across state borders.
Health Consumers NSW, a non-profit that promotes improved health care, published their assessment of the SDPR last month, giving the new policy a comprehensive evaluation. According to their report:
“Health consumers (patients, carers and family members) have for many years told Health Consumers NSW (HCNSW) of their frustrations with having to repeatedly provide the same health information across different healthcare facilities. We know that poor communication between different health services results in fragmented care, poor patient experiences and poor health outcomes.”
The report agrees that sharing patient records are “welcomed by consumers, carers and consumer organisations” but there are concerns about “implementation”.
The biggest concern for residents of Tenterfield Shire is sharing records across the border. According to the ABC, the SDPR does not address cross-border issues. Health Consumers NSW says that the new system has not had “adequate consultations with patients”.
The current system for transferring hospital patients across state lines involves keeping “records printed out in a folder which is tucked under the patient’s pillow, taped to their chest or wedged behind the paramedic’s chair for the patient’s transfer”, the ABC reported.
Susan Heyman, Executive Director of Operations in the Hunter New England local health district discussed the issue with The Town & Country Journal. She attempted to be reassuring.
“We have local arrangements in place to enable inter-hospital transfers when required with bordering jurisdictions including Queensland.”
“Patients in our hospitals regardless of their address, will have a discharge summary sent to their nominated GP.”
This contradicts what several readers have told this newspaper.
Ms Heyman admits that the “provision of cross border care” is a “key objective” of the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan 2022-2032. Indeed, the policy’s strategic objectives includes enabling “seamless cross-border care and streamline pathways to specialist care ensuring access to the best patient care regardless of postcode.”
The objective does not seem to have been met and the plan acknowledges that “proximity to borders” adds a “layer of complexity.”
The Town & Country Journal understands that the issue has been discussed in the Border Region Organisation of Councils. However, the minutes of the organisation have not been updated since 2023 and two separate requests to get current minutes went unanswered. The Town & Country Journal also asked for a comment from Minister for Health Ryan Park. No comment was forthcoming.
