Patients who complete a casual or enrolled patient form acknowledge the following:

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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, outside of QMC, 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 outside of QMC, 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 (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.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This practice may have staff that use AI tools to assist in providing healthcare services. All AI-assisted work is reviewed with human oversight to ensure their accuracy and appropriateness. AI will not be used for clinical decision-making or judgment. My health information will be used in accordance with legislative requirements and will not be shared with AI systems outside the practice without my consent. All data processed by AI tools will be handled securely and in compliance with data protection regulations. I will be informed about how AI tools are being used in my care and can ask questions or request more information at any time. I can also withdraw my consent at any point by notifying the practice.

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 my name but may include my National Health Index Identifier (NHI) 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:

• health service planning and reporting

• monitoring service quality

• 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.

Health Information to Private Insurers

I understand that where the cost of service(s) provided by my doctor and/or nurse have been or will be claimed from a private health insurer that QMC may be required to provide the insurer with details of the consultation(s) and/or procedure(s) relating to the claim(s) if so requested by the insurer. I hereby consent to QMC providing this information to such private health insurers.

E-mail/Text Messaging

Y accept full responsibility for logical and physical security of your email and text system and for notifying us of changes to your email address or mobile phone numbers. Consequently QMC disclaim any responsibility or liability and you agree to indemnify us for unauthorised access to your email or text messages or unauthorised viewing of information sent by us. By signing this enrolment form you are acknowledging your responsibilities.

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.

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Marketing and Communications

When you provide us with your email address—whether through registration, appointment booking, or other interactions—we may use it to send you communications relevant to your care and engagement with our practice. These may include:  
•    Appointment reminders, post-appointment surveys and follow-ups  
•    Health-related updates or information  
•    Information about new/existing services or changes to our practice  
•    Occasional messages that may support your wellbeing or inform you about relevant offerings  
We may also use information about your interactions with our website and digital platforms to deliver targeted health-related advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. This helps ensure that the content you see is relevant to your interests and needs.  
All communications include clear opt-out options, and you can manage your preferences at any time by contacting us or adjusting your settings on the respective platforms.  
We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Retention of patient identifying documents

As part of our enrolment process, Queenstown Medical Centre may request copies of personal identification and visa-related documentation to verify a patient's eligibility for publicly funded healthcare. When we do collect this documentation, it is for the lawful purpose of confirming eligibility and supporting quality control and auditing processes. In accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, these documents are securely stored within our patient management system, accessible only to authorised QMC staff. The documents are also securely stored within our enrolment portal for a limited number of days. We ensure these documents are protected against unauthorised access, use, or disclosure, as required under Rule 5 of the Code.

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.

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What about "cookies"?

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"Cookies" are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. We use cookies to store your preferences such as, font size and effects.

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Will Queenstown Medical Centre share the information it collects to outside parties?

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Queenstown Medical Centre does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others.

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Questions and Feedback

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If you have any questions or feedback related to our Privacy Policy, please contact us.

For matters where you feel privacy has been breached;
The Privacy Commissioner, PO Box 466, Auckland 1
Ph 0800 803 909

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