Looking for information?
We are transparent and accountable to you. The process to request information depends on the type of your request:
- To request a copy of a patient health record:
- visit Health Records or
- call 905-494-2120 ext. 58864
You will be asked if you are the patient or if you are requesting a record on behalf of a patient (e.g. as a substitute decision maker, power of attorney, legal counsel, insurance company representative, estate trustee, etc.)
- To request non-health related records, complete a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. More information on this process is below.
About Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) outlines how we provide access to information and protect people's privacy.
Under FIPPA, we:
- provide people with access to general records about our functions and operations, such as those found in our Directory of Records.
- allow people to request or correct personal information held by Osler
- protect the privacy of personal information under our custody and control
In keeping with the spirit of FIPPA, we make our operational records publicly available whenever possible. A number of records, such as executive contracts and expenses, are also available under public reporting.
Making a Freedom of Information request
You can request:
- general records about our functions and operations
- access to your personal information at Osler
- correction(s) to your personal information at Osler
To make a request, please complete the record access/correction request form.
When you complete and submit this form:
- clearly identify the specific records you want
- specify dates or time periods, where possible
- provide as much detail as possible to help us find the records
- indicate that the request is being made under FIPPA
Please note there is a $5.00 application fee to process this request. To make this payment, please contact us at 905-494-2120 ext. 29466 for instructions on how to pay online.
Submitting your request
Direct all FIPPA requests to:
Freedom of Information and Privacy Specialist
Freedom of Information (FOI) Office
William Osler Health System
We accept Freedom of Information requests electronically and by mail:
Submit via email: foi@williamoslerhs.ca or
Mail your request: FOI Office, 20 Lynch Street, Brampton, ON, L6W 2Z8
When we have received your complete request, we will contact you to discuss your needs and create a fee estimate for your review. Fees vary depending on the resources needed to complete your request.
Please note that we are not required to release records until fees have been paid, or the issue of fees has been resolved after an appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC).
If you have any questions, please contact us at foi@williamoslerhs.ca or 905-494-2120 ext. 29466.
Release of records
We will let you know if we can fulfill your request within 30 calendar days of receiving your complete request. Under FIPPA there are limited, specific circumstances in which we cannot provide records, in full or in part. If we are unable to provide records, we will give you the reason(s). If you wish, you can appeal our decision to the IPC within 30 days.