Patient Privacy Statement

At Southern Eye Specialists we are committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal and health information.

We comply with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, which set out how personal information must be collected, used, stored, and shared. For more information on these principles and codes, visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner website https://www.privacy.org.nz/.

Protecting patient information is an important part of how we manage risk within our organisation, including risks such as unauthorised access or loss of information.

What Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal and health information to provide safe and effective healthcare services.

This may include:
Your name, date of birth, and contact details
NHI number (where applicable)
GP and emergency contact details
Health insurance information
Medical history, diagnoses, and treatment information
Test results and clinical notes
Information you provide through our website (e.g. enquiry forms)

How We Collect Information

We collect personal information directly from you where possible, including when you:

Visit us for a consultation
Contact us by phone or email
Fill in forms
Submit information through our website

We may also receive information from:

Your GP or other healthcare providers
Specialists or allied health services
Insurance providers or treatment funders
Someone authorised to act on your behalf

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

Provide healthcare and treatment
Communicate with you about your care
Manage appointments and administration
Process billing and insurance claims
Meet legal and regulatory obligations
Improve our services through quality and safety activities

Sharing Your Information

We only share your information when necessary.
This may include sharing with:

Other healthcare providers involved in your care
Insurance companies or funding agencies
Government or regulatory bodies where required
Others where you have given permission

How We Keep Your Information Safe

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.

This includes:

Limiting access to authorised staff only
Staff confidentiality and training
Secure systems and data storage
IT protections such as passwords, monitoring, and security controls
Our internal risk processes identify privacy and IT-related risks (such as cyber threats or unauthorised access) and ensure controls are in place to reduce these risks.
While we take care to protect your information, no system can be completely secure.

Website Use

When you use our website:

We may collect basic technical information (e.g. browser type) to improve performance
We only collect personal information if you choose to provide it
We may use cookies to support your browsing experience

Accessing or Correcting Your Information

You have the right to:

Request access to your personal information
Request correction of any inaccurate information

To do this, please contact us.

Updates to This Statement

We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about your privacy, please contact:
Southern Eye Specialists 
info@southerneye.co.nz
(03) 355 6397