Kawau Bay Health is committed to managing health information in accordance with the Privacy Act (1993) and the Health Information Privacy Code (1994). This means we will protect the confidentiality of your personal and health information as required by the law and code.

The Code is enforceable by law. Rules 6 and 7 of the Code give you the right to access and to request correction of information we hold about you.

In order to provide you with high quality care and also meet our responsibilities we may from time to time provide information to a number of people and agencies including:

• Other health professionals or agencies directly involved with your immediate or ongoing care, e.g. hospital, district nurses, specialists.
• The Health and Disability Commissioner, Medical Council of NZ, Nursing Council of NZ, if any aspect of your care is under investigation.
• ACC – with your consent which you provide when you sign the ACC claim form.
• Health Pac (government funding agency) when we (the Practice) apply for a National Health Index (NHI) number or a High User Health Card (HUHC) or make a maternity or immunisation funding claim on your behalf.
• Work and Income NZ when completing applications for sickness or invalid benefits or disability allowances.
• A medical laboratory or radiological service when you are referred for tests.
• Public health authorities when investigating notifiable diseases.
• Breast Screening Aotearoa for mammography referrals.
• National Cervical Screening Programme (you may opt off this database).
• National Immunisation Register – maintains a national database of children's vaccination history.
• Centre for Adverse Reactions to Medication.
• Insurance companies when applying for cover (your written consent is required).
• The Ministry of Health, the District Health Board of your area, and the Primary Health Organisation (PHO) you are enrolled with, share information for the purpose of administration, funding and planning purposes, and for participation in projects and quality initiatives.

For further information about the Health Information Privacy Code, please ask a member of staff, or contact the Privacy Commissioner, PO Box 466, Auckland, or visit their website www.privacy.org.nz

For further information about enrolling with a Primary Health Organisation, visit www.moh.govt.nz and click on Primary Health Care/Primary Health Organisations.

I understand the following:

Access to my health information:
I have the right to access (and have corrected) my health information under Rules 6 and 7 of the Health Information Privacy Code 1994.

Visiting another GP

• If I visit another GP who is not my regular doctor I will be asked for permission to share information from the visit with my regular doctor or practice.
• If I have a High User Health Card or Community Services Card and I visit another GP who is not my regular doctor, he/she can make a claim for a subsidy, and the practice I am enrolled in will be informed of the date of that visit.
• The name of the practice I visited and the reason(s) for the visit will not be disclosed unless I give my consent.

Patient Enrolment Information
The information I have provided on the Practice Enrolment Form will be:

• held by the practice
• used by the Ministry of Health to give me a National Health Index (NHI) number, or update any changes
• sent to the PHO and Ministry of Health to obtain subsidised funding on my behalf
• used to determine eligibility to receive publicly-funded services. Information may be compared with other government agencies but only when permitted under the Privacy Act.

Health Information
Members of my health team may:

• add to my health record during any services provided to me and use that information to provide appropriate care
• share relevant health information to other health professionals who are directly involved in my care

Audit
In the case of financial audits, my health information may be reviewed by an auditor for checking a financial claim made by the practice, but only according to the terms and conditions of section 22G of the Health Act (or any subsequent applicable Act).

I may be contacted by the auditor to check that services have been received. If the audit involves checking on health matters, an appropriately qualified health care practitioner will view the health records.

Health Programmes
Health data relevant to a programme in which I am enrolled (e.g. Breast Screening, Immunisation, Diabetes) may be sent to the PHO or the external health agency managing this programme.

Other Uses of Health Information

• Health information which will not include information that can identify me may be used by health agencies such as the District Health Board, Ministry of Health or PHO for the following purposes, as long as it is not used or published in a way that can identify me, unless I have given authorised consent for this:
• health service planning and reporting
• monitoring service quality, and
• payment

Research
My health information may be used for health research, but only if this has been approved by an Ethics Committee and will not be used or published in a way that can identify me.

Except as listed above, I understand that details about my health status or the services I have received will remain confidential within the medical practice unless I give specific consent for this information to be communicated.