From March 2026, consumers will be able to view limb (arms and legs) X‑ray reports in My Health Record immediately after upload. For most other diagnostic imaging reports - including other X‑rays and scans such as CT, MRI, PET, ultrasound and mammography - consumer access will shift to a five‑day delay (reduced from seven days).
This is a staged change. Immediate access starts with a narrow set of imaging (limb X‑rays), while other imaging retains a short delay. Upload‑by‑default requirements for pathology and diagnostic imaging services will also be introduced via rules commencing from July 2026, with a transition period to support readiness.
The AMA conducted extensive consultation with members in relation to the commitment announced by the government in 2023 to reform the My Health record to allow patients to see reports immediately after they are uploaded, unless there was a clear need to delay a report to protect the wellbeing of a patient. Your feedback helped to shape our response to this commitment in our submissions and input through advisory structures.
Based on your feedback the AMA supported better information‑sharing and consistently argued for implementation settings that protect clinical quality and continuity of care. In our submission on modernising My Health Record , doctors highlighted practical risks when complex results are read without clinical context - such as misinterpretation, unplanned care‑seeking, and increased pressure on practices before clinicians have reviewed findings.
At the same time, we emphasised that diagnostic imaging reports are primarily written to communicate findings to the referring clinician. Patients should be encouraged to discuss reports with their GP or specialist, who can interpret results alongside symptoms, history, and next steps.
The government has now landed on a modest set of reforms, balancing the consumers desire for more information and clinician feedback provided through the AMA.
Published guidance for consumers also emphasises delays are based on test type, not the result, and do not indicate an adverse finding. The retained delay for most imaging is intended to allow the treating team time to review results and plan care before consumer viewing.
There is also a practical issue the reforms must address: consistency and usability of what is shared. Officially, the reforms are scoped to upload written diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record (not images). Members continue to report that, across the broader imaging ecosystem, consumers may still access imaging outputs through separate portals and formats that are not consistently presented alongside a clear written report. As this transition progresses, the AMA will continue to call for consistent upload formats and presentation, so consumers and clinicians see information that is complete, comparable, and usable regardless of jurisdiction or service setting.
These changes will shift the timing of conversations. Practices can minimise disruption by setting clear follow‑up expectations when ordering imaging (including when results will be discussed and what to do if symptoms change). It helps to remind patients that the report needs interpretation - the scan is a chapter, not the whole book.
More broadly, these reforms highlight a longstanding gap: information often flows unevenly between hospitals, patient portals, and general practice systems. The AMA will keep pressing for better integration across the full pathway - imaging, pathology, and discharge information - so shared records genuinely support continuity of care rather than creating parallel information silos.
The AMA will keep engaging with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) as implementation progresses. We are focused on clinical safety, workable workflows, and clear communication. The department and ADHA have also established a clinical reference group to provide strategic advice and clinical oversight for the program.
