Access to your health information
You have the right to access (and have corrected) your health information under Rules 6 and 7 of the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

Visiting another GP
If you visit another GP who is not your regular doctor you will be asked for permission to share information from the visit with your regular doctor or practice.

If you have a Community Services Card and you visit another GP who is not your regular doctor, he/she can make a claim for a subsidy, and the practice you are enrolled in will be informed of the date of that visit. The name of the practice you visited and the reason(s) for the visit will not be disclosed unless you give your consent.

Patient Enrolment Information
The information you have provided on the Practice Enrolment Form will be:
o Held by the practice
o Used by the Ministry of Health to give you a National Health Index (NHI) number, or update any changes
o Sent to the PHO and Ministry of Health to obtain subsidised funding on your behalf
o 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 your health team may:
o Add to your health record during any services provided to you and use that information to provide appropriate care
o Share relevant health information to other health professionals who are directly involved in your care.

Audit
In the case of financial audits, your 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). You 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 you are 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 your name but may include your National Health Index Identifier (NHI) may be used by health agencies such as the Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora, Ministry of Health or PHO for the following purposes, as long as it is not used or published in a way that can identify you:

o Health service planning and reporting
o Monitoring service quality
o Payment.

Research
Your health information may be used for health research only with your written consent under Right 9 of the Code – Rights in respect of teaching or research, and only if this has been approved by an Ethics Committee and will not be used or published in a way that can identify you.

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