Dear Mr Joradan

 

I am writing to you in regards to your request for access to your health
records under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), as follows:

 

“1. How many public specialists care for people with the symptom cluster
of post exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance, abnormal heart rate
response to exertion, food/chemical/environmental intolerances, abnormal
low temperature after exertion - etc which is defined as Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis (ME) in the International Consensus Criteria 2011.

 

2. The National Centre for Neuroimmune and Emerging Diseases at Griffith
University used to have clinic for ME patients. Who cares for them now
that the clinic has shut its doors?

 

3. Where are specialist that help people with ME located.

 

4. It is estimated that 250,000 Australians have ME. What is the actual
figure?

 

5. Record of health services (home cleaning, transport) provided to people
with ME.”

 

I would like to provide you with the following information.

 

While the Commonwealth Department of Health supports the Australian
community’s access to health services it is not involved in the direct
delivery of these services. Because of this the Commonwealth Department of
Health does not usually hold any documents related to public care
specialists and records of ‘community’ services provided to people with
ME.

 

Where treatment or services have been provided by a State or Territory
public medical service or hospital, a person may request access to their
health records under the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act from
that State or Territory agency. Details about how to request personal
health records from a public State or Territory service or hospital can
generally be found on their website. I note part 2 of your request relates
to the clinic at The National Centre for Neuroimmune and Emerging Diseases
at Griffith University. As this clinic was based in Queensland details on
how to make an FOI request to the Queensland Department of Health can be
found at:
[1]https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-gov...

 

In respect of parts 1, 3, 4 and 5 if you are seeking information on a
broader national basis you may have to contact each individual state and
territory health departments and in relation to part 5 the relevant social
service department.

 

I hope this information will assist you in accessing your records. The
Department will consider your request as withdrawn as the request is not
for a document from this agency

 

Kind regards

 

 

FOI Health

[2]cid:image002.png@01D152AA.D704F7C0

Ministerial, Parliamentary, Executive Support & Governance Branch | People
Capability & Communication

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02.6289 1666| E: foi.health.gov.au

 

The Department of Health acknowledges the traditional owners of country
throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and
community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders
both past and present.

 

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