As a client of BreastScreen SA, you have the right to:

• a welcoming, friendly, high-quality service
• view your own health care records and, if incorrect, have them amended
• be treated with respect and be safe from abuse
• be assured that only authorised personnel involved in your care have access to information about you and your care
• receive information that is easy to understand and helpful
• be given clear information about:
  • the screening process
  • the assessment process
  • procedures that may be conducted
  • who can provide you with your assessment results
  • referral options for any recommended treatment
  • the risks involved in breast cancer screening
• ask questions about your screening mammogram and investigations
• actively participate in improving the safety and quality of our service through feedback
• provide feedback about the service you received
• provide or withdraw consent for treatment at any time
• have a family member, friend, carer or advocate with you
• have an independent, professional interpreter if required
• have your personal information treated confidentially.

As a BreastScreen SA client, you also have responsibilities that can improve your experience with our service.

You have a responsibility to:

• keep appointments and be on time – if you are running late or unable to attend, you must let us know
• provide up-to-date information about any relevant medical history so that we can provide you with the best and safest care
• ask questions so that you feel confident in making decisions about your care
• tell us of your needs in a polite way
• help in your own care by following any after care advice and notifying us if you have any problems following your appointment
• let us know if you are worried or unhappy with any aspect of your visit to BreastScreen SA
• inform us of any special needs you may have.

Suggestion cards are provided in each clinic waiting area for you to provide general feedback and compliments on our service. Please ask our friendly reception staff for more details.

If you would like to express your concerns about the service you have received, you can:

• email us at HelloBSSA@sa.gov.au
• phone 13 20 50 to speak to one of BreastScreen SA’s senior managers, who will be able to assist you further
• write to the Program Director, BreastScreen SA at Level 1, 300 Wakefield Street, Adelaide SA 5000

If you feel a complaint made by you to the BreastScreen SA service has not been satisfactorily resolved, you can contact the Health and Community Services Complaints Commission (HCSCC) on 08 8226 8660 or via www.hcscc.sa.gov.au. The HCSCC provide a free, impartial and confidential service to consumers of a health, community or child protection service.

You can see a full copy of SA Health’s Consumer Rights and Responsibilities in our clinics, or visit www.health.sa.gov.au.

BreastScreen SA has been granted permission to obtain information (names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses and phone numbers) from both Medicare and the Electoral Roll to identify South Australian women aged 50 and older. This information allows us to invite eligible women to make an appointment for a free breast screen.

Information is collected from you (our client) when you attend for screening, allowing us to correctly identify you and your records.

Further information collected from you includes:

• your family history of breast cancer – this allows us to recommend whether you should be screened annually or 2-yearly
• any current breast symptoms and previous breast problems you may have – this enables us to make recommendations to your doctor about future management after your breast screen
• any investigations and treatment following your breast screen – this information is collected, with your consent, from external health providers to ensure you receive the most appropriate care
• any investigations and treatment for breast cancer that is diagnosed between your regular breast screens – this information is collected from the SA Cancer Registry and allows us to monitor the effectiveness of our service.

If you do not provide us with all the relevant information about yourself, we may not be able to provide you with the best advice about your need for further investigations and future screening.

If you do not sign the BreastScreen SA Screening Information and Consent for Screening form, we are unable screen you.

We use your personal details to contact you when your breast screen is due and to inform you of your results.

Your nominated general practitioner (GP) or treating doctors will also be contacted to ensure you receive the most appropriate care.

Data is analysed so we can monitor the quality of our service, and plan for future needs.

Your information is stored securely within an electronic database. Privacy and confidentiality is strictly maintained, according to the Health Act 2008 (sec 93) and Mental Health Act 2009 (sec 106).

BreastScreen SA staff have access to information at the level that is required for them to perform their duties and provide the best possible breast screening service for you.

Your nominated doctor is provided with the results of your screening visit if you have provided us with their name and given your signed consent.

Your nominated doctor and treating specialist(s) are provided with information about you if you need investigation or treatment for breast cancer.

The SA Cancer Registry is notified of all cases of breast cancer. This is required by law.

Data is used to collect statistics for quality assurance and for monitoring and evaluation of the BreastScreen SA program. Reports produced from this data may be provided to BreastScreen Australia and government health departments. Information may be used for ethically approved research purposes. Research may be internal to BreastScreen SA and/or in partnership with external institutions. It is not possible to identify individuals from published reports in any way.

There are times when you might want to have copies of your records for your own information. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act generally gives you the right to access and obtain copies of your personal records. You can request your records personally and if you believe that your records are incorrect, out-of-date or misleading, you can ask for your records to be amended.

To find out more about making a FOI application and the fees and charges that apply, or to obtain an application form, you can visit the State Records website at www.archives.sa.gov.au or phone them on 08 8204 8791.

If you are concerned about how your personal information is being managed, or have difficulties accessing your records, phone BreastScreen SA’s Freedom of Information Officer on 13 20 50 or email HelloBSSA@sa.gov.au.