Patient Privacy Statement

Your Privacy

Cardrona Doctors respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

Health information is collected, used, and disclosed only where necessary to:

• Provide safe and appropriate healthcare
• Support continuity of care
• Meet legal, funding, and professional obligations

Access to health information is restricted to authorised staff involved in your care or in the lawful operation of the practice.

You have the right to access your health information and request correction of information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

Patient Enrolment Information

When you enrol with Cardrona Doctors, the information you provide on your enrolment form will be:

• Held securely by Cardrona Doctors
• Used by Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand / Ministry of Health to allocate a National Health Index (NHI) number or update your existing details
• Shared with our Primary Health Organisation (PHO) and Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand / Ministry of Health to obtain publicly funded healthcare services on your behalf
• Used to determine eligibility to receive publicly funded health services
• Included on the Practice, PHO, and National Enrolment Service (NES) registers

Your information may be compared with information held by other government agencies only where permitted by law, including under the Privacy Act 2020.

Visiting Another General Practice

If you receive care from a general practice or healthcare provider that is not your enrolled practice, you may be asked for permission for information from that visit to be shared with your enrolled or regular general practice to support continuity of care.

Where Cardrona Doctors provides care to patients who are not enrolled with our practice (including domestic or international visitors), relevant information from that visit may be shared with the patient’s enrolled or regular general practice with the patient’s consent, or where permitted or required by law.

If you hold a High User Health Card (HUHC) or Community Services Card (CSC) and receive care from a general practice other than your enrolled practice, a subsidy may be claimed for that visit. In these circumstances:

• The practice you are enrolled with may be informed that a subsidised visit has occurred
• The date of the visit may be shared
• The name of the practice visited and the reason for the visit will not be disclosed unless you give your consent

This information is shared in accordance with enrolment, funding, and privacy requirements.

Audit and Use of Health Information

In some circumstances, patient health information may be reviewed as part of audits or funding checks carried out by authorised agencies, including under section 22G of the Health Act.

Where health information is accessed for audit purposes:

• Only information relevant to the audit will be reviewed
• Audits are conducted under strict confidentiality requirements
• If clinical information must be reviewed, this will be done by an appropriately qualified health professional

You may be contacted as part of an audit to confirm that services were received.

Health Programmes

If you are enrolled in a health programme (for example immunisation, screening, diabetes, or other long-term condition programmes), relevant information may be shared with the PHO or the external health agency managing that programme.

Other Uses of Health Information

Health information that does not directly identify you, but may include your National Health Index (NHI) number, may be used by Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand / Ministry of Health or our PHO for purposes including:

• Health service planning and reporting
• Monitoring and improving service quality
• Funding and payment processes

This information is not used or published in a way that identifies you personally.

Except as outlined in this statement, your health information remains confidential within Cardrona Doctors unless:

• You give specific consent
• Disclosure is required or permitted by law
• Disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to life or health

Raising a Concern or Complaint

All patients have the right to raise a concern or make a complaint about privacy, care, or services received at Cardrona Doctors. Raising a concern will not affect your access to care.

We encourage you to raise concerns with the practice first so we can attempt to resolve the issue directly.

Contact details
Phone: 03 566 9090
Email: info@cardronadoctors.co.nz
Address: 59 Brownston Street, Wānaka 9305

External Escalation

If your concern relates to privacy and is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

If your concern relates to care or service quality, you may contact the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC).

Health and Disability Commissioner
Freephone: 0800 11 22 33

You do not need our permission to do so.