At the HRSRH, we recognize our responsibility to the news media to provide information of public interest and endeavour to do so in an open, transparent, and expeditious manner. In the process, we strive for balance with our other responsibility to protect patients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality. All members of the media are expected to abide by the hospital's policies and guidelines in their dealings with patients, employees, medical staff and volunteers at the HRSRH:

• All news media representatives (whether on the telephone or in person) must identify themselves and the organization they represent.
• Media working under specific deadlines should advise Communications so requests may be dealt with in a timely fashion.
• Media are not permitted to interview employees, medical staff, patients and families, or enter patient care areas, including waiting rooms, unless authorized by Communications.
• Signed patient consent must be obtained by Communications staff prior to interviews and use of photography, and HRSRH medical and hospital staff must be asked for their permission before any media-related activity.
• For the protection of patient and visitor privacy and comfort, the news media must inform the Communications department if pursuing a story on Hospital premises, and consent to be escorted by Communications staff. (Not only does this foster trust and transparency; it serves to protect the interests of all involved parties.)
• After-hours media requests shall be directed to the Senior Manager on-call through hospital switchboard.  
• The CEO and the Board Chair shall act as the HRSRH Board of Directors’ exclusive media contacts. Please contact the Communications department to arrange an interview.
• Understand that not all health-care related information falls under the purview of the HRSRH. The Hospital cannot provide information to the media with regard to the following items of media interest, but is pleased to direct you to the appropriate agencies:
• infectious disease- Sudbury District Health Unit;
• disaster - City of Greater Sudbury;
• death -Coroner’s Office;
• crime or accident-related injury - City of Greater Sudbury Police Services.
• The HRSRH is committed to being recognized by our patients as caring, compassionate and attentive about their care. All patient complaints are acknowledged and responded to in a timely, professional, and appropriate manner by Melanie Hinton, HRSRH Patient Representative. All patient complaints, even those brought forth to the media by the complainant, are considered strictly confidential. However, while we cannot respond to specifics, we can provide information on Hospital policies that may serve to clarify why certain actions or decisions are taken.