Mandatory uploads to My Health Record: what GPs and patients need to know
21 Jan 2026
Dr Rob Hosking, a GP, has watched My Health Record evolve over the past 13 years with optimism, but also some caution. The latest changes, introduced under the Health Legislation Amendment (Modernising My Health Record: Sharing by Default) Act 2025, are among the most significant yet.
From October 2025, most pathology results are now immediately visible to patients once uploaded to My Health Record. Other results, including cytopathology, anatomical pathology and genetic tests, remain on a short delay, reduced from seven to five days. Diagnostic imaging follows a similar schedule, with X-ray reports for limbs moving to immediate release from March 2026, while CT, MRI, PET, ultrasound and most torso imaging will have a five-day delay. Clinicians continue to see all reports as soon as they are uploaded.
The goal is clear: faster patient access, reduced duplicate testing, and improved care coordination. On paper, these changes make sense, Dr Hosking says. In practice, however, they alter how results are seen and interpreted in the consulting room.
Previously, GPs would view and interpret results before patients, providing context and reassurance. That buffer often helped prevent panic, misunderstandings, or frantic Googling. With immediate release, patients may now see abnormal findings — phrases like “indeterminate nodule” or “possible mass requiring further evaluation” — at the same time their GP does, or even before.
For some, early access is empowering, particularly for those with chronic conditions who already understand their health. For others, it can create anxiety exactly when professional reassurance is most needed. Normal results may still require follow-up, and slightly abnormal results can be misinterpreted as urgent. Resources like Pathology Tests Explained within My Health Record provide guidance, but they don’t eliminate the risk of misunderstanding.
Patients maintain control over their record. They can choose to prevent uploads when requesting a test, manage access after results are uploaded, or hide documents if needed. The original report always goes to the requesting GP, so care isn’t compromised.
Dr Hosking says the reforms are a chance to improve communication. GPs can set expectations at the time of ordering tests, explaining why the test is needed, what the results could mean, and how the patient will receive follow-up. This can reduce anxiety and help patients interpret their results more accurately.
The changes also mean GPs will see more results ordered by other clinicians, reducing duplicate testing. However, responsibility for follow-up still lies with the ordering practitioner. Practices will need clear systems to handle patient enquiries, especially if tests are done while a GP is away.
Initially, these reforms may increase GP workload, with more calls, follow-ups, and the need for rapid review. Over time, better information flow could save time, reduce unnecessary testing, and streamline care.
Ultimately, immediate access to test results doesn’t replace clinical interpretation, but it encourages transparency and a more informed, engaged patient. The reforms reinforce the GP’s role as the central point of care — balancing access, safety, and support.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: Dr Rob Hosking / RACGP insights
