Calls grow to replace fax and paper referrals in healthcare
25 Sep 2026
Reports indicate that up to 150 patients at Mildura Base Public Hospital had been waiting for care for more than a year after paper referrals were reportedly left in boxes and not processed. One patient is reported to have died after a GP referral was not actioned.
The situation has raised concerns about how healthcare organisations receive, track and manage important patient information.
Mildura Base Public Hospital Interim Chief Executive Matthew Jukes said the hospital was taking steps to address the issue and strengthen its referral processes.
The hospital is also continuing work with the Victorian Department of Health and its regional health network to expand its Electronic Medical Record capabilities.
Dr Steven Kaye, Deputy Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Practice Technology and Management, said paper, fax and other non-digital communication methods can create risks for healthcare practices.
He said digital systems allow information to be received, recorded and tracked, while paper documents and faxed files can be difficult to search, analyse or use with other digital systems.
Dr Kaye said governments should move towards ending the use of fax and paper-based communication in healthcare.
He also highlighted the benefits of digital referral systems, where information can be tracked and is less likely to be misplaced.
Some hospitals have already introduced digital-only referral processes. However, Dr Kaye noted that digital referrals are not always matched by digital communication when hospitals send information back to general practices.
The Australian Digital Health Agency is working with governments, healthcare organisations and software providers to improve how digital health systems connect.
My Health Record is available to healthcare professionals and consumers to securely share clinical information. The Agency is also working on Health Connect Australia, which aims to improve the exchange of health information between different systems.
For general practices looking to improve their digital systems, the Agency recommends reviewing how information is sent and received, using secure digital communication where available, keeping practice software up to date and ensuring staff understand privacy and access requirements.
Calls grow to replace fax and paper referrals in healthcare
Source: RACGP newsGP / Australian Digital Health Agency.