Medical history for my baby born and died on 30 March 1975

Lyn Duffy made this Freedom of Information request to Victorian Department of Health

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

Victorian Department of Health did not have the information requested.

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

I am looking to access the medical records for my baby (Justin Dean Duffy) who was born on 30 March 1975 at St Andrews Hospital, East Melbourne and also died just 1 hour after his birth on the same day. As was the case in the seventies, we never got to see our baby or ever found out the exact reason he died, other than that he had complications. We had a communal burial, which was recommended by the medical staff at the time and have only recently found out where our baby boy was laid to rest. So this has now spurred me on to find out exactly what medical condition he suffered that caused his death, so that I can finally close that chapter of my life.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

Victorian Department of Health

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.

Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.

If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>

In response to:




Freedom of Information request - Medical history for my baby born and
died on 30 March 1975

Lyn Duffy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
30/0
6/20
18
17:1
1
Show
Deta
ils

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

I am looking to access the medical records for my baby (Justin Dean Duffy)
who was born on 30 March 1975 at St Andrews Hospital, East Melbourne and
also died just 1 hour after his birth on the same day. As was the case in
the seventies, we never got to see our baby or ever found out the exact
reason he died, other than that he had complications. We had a communal
burial, which was recommended by the medical staff at the time and have
only recently found out where our baby boy was laid to rest. So this has
now spurred me on to find out exactly what medical condition he suffered
that caused his death, so that I can finally close that chapter of my life.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #4674 email]

Is [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Victorian Department of Health and Human Services? If so,
please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More
information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Victorian Department of Health

Dear Lyn,

In response to your enquiry pertaining to your son's records.
Unfortunately, as St Andrews was a private hospital, the department does
not hold those records - only records from government run institutions

I recommend that you contact the Health Complaints Commissioner, as they
hold records from private hospitals. They can be contacted on 1300 582
113, or via email on [email address]

If you have any questions, please contact me on (03) 9096 8449.

Kind regards,
Rachel

Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information unit | Executive Services & Performance
Department of Health and Human Services
50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
t. 9096 8449  | f. 9096 8848  | e. [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
w. [1]www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

From: Lyn Duffy <[FOI #4674 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 30/06/2018 05:11 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Medical history for my baby born
and died on 30 March 1975

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

I am looking to access the medical records for my baby (Justin Dean Duffy)
who was born on 30 March 1975 at St Andrews Hospital, East Melbourne and
also died just 1 hour after his birth on the same day.  As was the case in
the seventies, we never got to see our baby or ever found out the exact
reason he died, other than that he had complications.  We had a communal
burial, which was recommended by the medical staff at the time and have
only recently found out where our baby boy was laid to rest. So this has
now spurred me on to find out exactly what medical condition he suffered
that caused his death, so that I can finally close that chapter of my
life.  

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #4674 email]

Is [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Victorian Department of Health and Human Services? If so,
please contact us using this form:
[2]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[3]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

Thank you for replying to my email also promptly and for your advice

However, I am concerned that you suggested I should contact the Health Commissioner for complaints, when I don't wish to lodge a complaint, but merely wish to seek information. I am wondering if this is the right department for me to contact to source this information.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

Victorian Department of Health

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.

Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.

If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>

In response to:




Re: Freedom of Information request - Medical history for my baby born
and died on 30 March 1975

Lyn Duffy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
02/0
7/20
18
13:0
6
Show
Deta
ils

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

Thank you for replying to my email also promptly and for your advice

However, I am concerned that you suggested I should contact the Health
Commissioner for complaints, when I don't wish to lodge a complaint, but
merely wish to seek information. I am wondering if this is the right
department for me to contact to source this information.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

show quoted sections

Victorian Department of Health

Dear Lyn,

I suggested that you contact the Health Complaints Commissioner as in
addition to managing complaints they also manage health records and
information from private organisations that you can request access to.

To assist you, I have included the link to their website below that will
guide you as to how to make a request with them.

[1]https://hcc.vic.gov.au/public/health-rec...

You can also contact them on their general enquiries line 1300 582 113 and
they can advise you about making a request.

Kind regards,
Rachel

Authorised Officer
Freedom of Information unit | Executive Services & Performance
Department of Health and Human Services
50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
t. 9096 8449  | f. 9096 8848  | e. [Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]
w. [2]www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

From: Lyn Duffy <[FOI #4674 email]>
To: FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
<[Victorian Department of Health and Human Services request email]>,
Date: 02/07/2018 01:06 PM
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Medical history for my baby
born and died on 30 March 1975

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

Thank you for replying to my email also promptly and for your advice

However, I am concerned that you suggested I should contact the Health
Commissioner for complaints, when I don't wish to lodge a complaint, but
merely wish to seek information. I am wondering if this is the right
department for me to contact to source this information.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

show quoted sections

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

Dear Rachel

Thanks again for clarifying my enquiry. I will contact the Health Complaints Commissioner with regard to accessing the information I require.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

Victorian Department of Health

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information unit at the Department
of Health and Human Services.

Your email has been received and you will receive a response regarding your
Freedom of Information or subpoena enquiry as soon as possible.

If you are seeking further information regarding Freedom of Information,
please refer to our website at
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individual...>

In response to:




Re: Freedom of Information request - Medical history for my baby born
and died on 30 March 1975

Lyn Duffy
to:
FOI requests at Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services
03/0
7/20
18
14:2
3
Show
Deta
ils

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

Dear Rachel

Thanks again for clarifying my enquiry. I will contact the Health
Complaints Commissioner with regard to accessing the information I require.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Lyn Duffy

show quoted sections