Privacy Policy and
Terms & Conditions
Bundaberg Anaesthesia Specialists / Embrace Anaesthesia
Effective Date: 10 November 2025
Bundaberg Anaesthesia Specialists / Embrace Anaesthesia (“we”, “our”, “us”) are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the Privacy Guidelines for Health Service Providers.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal and health information in the course of providing anaesthesia and perioperative care.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal and sensitive health information necessary to provide safe and effective medical care. This may include:
Personal information: Name, date of birth, address, phone number, email, next-of-kin or emergency contacts.
Health information: Medical history, medications, allergies, diagnostic reports, imaging, and perioperative records.
Financial information: Medicare and private health insurance details, billing and payment information.
Administrative information: Appointment history, correspondence, and communication preferences.
Sensitive information, such as your health details, is treated with the highest level of confidentiality and is only accessed by authorised personnel.
2. How We Use Your Information
Your personal and health information is used to:
Provide anaesthesia, perioperative, and related healthcare services.
Coordinate care with other treating medical practitioners, hospitals, and allied health professionals.
Schedule appointments, follow-ups, and communicate clinical instructions.
Process payments, Medicare claims, and insurance reimbursements.
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including reporting, auditing, and record-keeping.
Conduct quality assurance, research (with consent or anonymised data), and practice management.
We will not use your information for marketing purposes without your express consent.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We may disclose your personal and health information to:
Other healthcare providers involved in your care.
Hospitals, diagnostic imaging centres, laboratories, and allied health professionals.
Regulatory bodies, auditors, and professional indemnity insurers as required by law.
Third-party service providers assisting with practice management, IT, or billing, under strict confidentiality agreements.
We do not sell your personal information. Any disclosure will comply with the Privacy Act, Health Records legislation, and professional ethical obligations.
4. Storage and Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your information against misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure, including:
Secure electronic storage with encryption and restricted access.
Locked storage of paper records.
Retention and disposal in accordance with professional and legal requirements.
5. Access and Correction
You have the right to:
Access your personal and health information held by us.
Request correction of any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
Requests should be made in writing to:
Bundaberg Anaesthesia Specialists / Embrace Anaesthesia
Phone: 0466 053 851
Mailing Address: PO Box 6137, Bundaberg East QLD 4670
Email: admin@bundaberganaesthesia.com
We will respond in accordance with the APPs and within the legally required timeframes.
6. Sensitive Information and Medical Privacy
As a medical practice, we recognise that health information is highly sensitive. We only collect, use, and disclose such information:
For your healthcare and treatment.
When required or authorised by law.
With your explicit consent, where appropriate.
We will never use health information for secondary purposes without your consent unless permitted or required by law.
7. Cookies and Online Privacy
Our website may use cookies or analytics tools to improve user experience. This information is anonymous and not linked to individual patients.
8. Complaints
If you have a privacy concern or complaint, please contact us using the details above.
We will investigate your complaint promptly and respond in accordance with legal obligations.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC): https://www.oaic.gov.au
9. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website. We encourage you to review it periodically.
Bundaberg Anaesthesia Specialists / Embrace Anaesthesia
Committed to patient privacy, confidentiality, and high-quality care.
Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists – Terms & Conditions
Effective Date: 10 November 2025
Business Entity: Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists Pty Ltd
1. Purpose of These Terms
These Terms & Conditions outline the rights, responsibilities, and expectations for patients engaging the services of Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists (“we”, “us”, “our”). By agreeing to receive anaesthesia services from our anaesthetists, you acknowledge and accept these Terms.
2. Nature of Services
Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists provides specialist anaesthesia and peri-operative medical services to patients undergoing medical, surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures.
Your anaesthetist is an independent medical specialist responsible for:
Assessing your suitability for anaesthesia
Providing clinical advice
Delivering anaesthesia care
Managing your recovery from anaesthesia
Our anaesthetists may work across multiple private and public hospitals. Each hospital has its own policies, and compliance with those policies is required to proceed with your care.
3. Patient Responsibilities
Patients agree to:
Provide accurate and complete medical information.
Disclose all medications, allergies, recreational substances, and relevant medical history.
Follow pre-operative and fasting instructions.
Attend scheduled appointments or provide notice of cancellation.
Comply with payment terms, including pre-payment where required.
Failure to follow instructions may result in cancellation or postponement of your procedure for safety reasons.
4. Fees, Billing & Payments
4.1 Private Fees
Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists is a private billing practice.
Fees are determined by:
Procedure type
Duration and complexity
After-hours or emergency loading
Additional monitoring or medical management required
Your anaesthetist’s fees are separate from:
Surgeon fees
Hospital fees
Assistant fees
Pathology or radiology fees
4.2 Quotes & Informed Financial Consent
Where possible, a written quote will be provided prior to your procedure.
Quotes are estimates only; variations may occur based on:
Unexpected clinical complexity
Longer than anticipated surgery
Additional monitoring or interventions
You acknowledge and agree that final fees may differ from the estimate.
4.3 Medicare & Health Fund Rebates
Rebate amounts are determined by:
Medicare
Your private health fund cover
Any relevant gap or excess
Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists is not responsible for your health fund classification, payments, policy limitations, or fund rules.
4.4 Pre-Payment
Some procedures require pre-payment in full before the day of surgery.
Your booking may be cancelled if pre-payment is not received by the requested date.
4.5 Outstanding Accounts
Accounts that remain unpaid may be:
Referred to debt recovery services
Subject to additional recovery costs
Reported to Medicare/private fund as required
5. Cancellations & Non-Attendance
Cancellations within 48 hours of surgery may attract a cancellation fee.
Non-attendance for a pre-anaesthetic appointment (telehealth or in-person) may incur a fee.
If you fail to follow pre-operative instructions and your procedure is cancelled, you may be charged for time allocated.
6. Telehealth Services
Where clinically appropriate, telehealth consultations may be offered.
By participating, you acknowledge:
Limitations of remote assessments
Potential technology issues
The need to provide clear, accurate information
Telehealth does not replace emergency medical care.
7. Clinical Decision-Making
Your anaesthetist may:
Postpone or cancel your procedure
Request further tests
Require an in-person assessment
Refuse to provide anaesthesia if it is unsafe to proceed
These decisions are always made in the interest of patient safety.
8. Behavioural Expectations
Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists has a zero-tolerance policy toward:
Verbal abuse
Threatening behaviour
Harassment
Discrimination
Inappropriate communication
We reserve the right to discontinue care if behaviour is unsafe, abusive, or inappropriate.
9. Privacy & Confidentiality
We collect and store personal information to provide safe and effective medical care.
Your information may be shared with:
Surgeons
Hospitals
Pathology/radiology services
Medicare/private health funds
AHPRA or regulatory bodies (where legally required)
We comply with:
The Privacy Act 1988
Australian Privacy Principles
Relevant State and Commonwealth health privacy laws
For full details, refer to our Embrace Anaesthesia Privacy Policy.
10. Complaints & Feedback
We encourage respectful feedback and will address concerns promptly.
Complaints can be made to:
Embrace Anaesthesia directly
AHPRA
The Office of the Health Ombudsman (Qld)
We are committed to fair, transparent, and timely resolution.
11. Emergency Situations & Limitations
Your anaesthetist may be called to manage urgent or life-threatening situations in a hospital setting.
This may cause:
Delays
Rescheduling
Changes to consultation timing
We appreciate your understanding in these circumstances.
12. Limitation of Liability
To the extent permitted by law:
Embrace Anaesthesia Specialists is not liable for loss arising from delays, cancellations, or clinical decisions made in the interest of safety.
No guarantee is made regarding outcomes of anaesthesia or surgery.
You acknowledge that all medical procedures carry inherent risks.
13. Amendments to These Terms
These Terms may be updated from time to time. The version available on our website or provided to you at the time of service will apply.
14. Acceptance of Terms
By:
booking a procedure,
attending a pre-anaesthetic assessment,
undergoing anaesthesia, or
paying any invoice,
you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms & Conditions.