On December 8, 2010, the Government of Ontario passed the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010 (BPSAA). The BPSAA contains amendments to the Freedom of Information & Privacy Act (FIPPA or Act) that brought hospitals under the Freedom of Information regime beginning January 1, 2012. FIPPA applies only to records that came into the custody or under the control of a hospital on or after January 1, 2007.
The purposes of FIPPA are:
a) ACCESS: To provide a right of access to information under the custody or control of the hospital in accordance with the principles that,
- Information should be available to the public,
- Necessary exemptions from the right of access should be limited and specific,
- Decisions on the disclosure of information should be reviewed independently of the hospital controlling the information; and
b) PRIVACY: To protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves in the custody or the control of the hospital and to provide individuals with a right of access to that information.
Please Note: Access to personal health information (PHI), such as access to a patient's medical chart, is not under FIPPA. The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) applies to a patient's medical information that the hospital protects in accordance with PHIPA. If you wish to access your own personal health information please contact the HPHA Health Records Department at 519-272-8210 Ext. 2925 or complete Request For Access To Personal Health Information
If you wish to learn more about the FIPPA legislation or to speak to someone regarding a Freedom of Information Request, please feel free to contact our Privacy & Information Office (contact information below).
INFORMATION & PRIVACY OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION