Privacy: Shared Digital Health Record

We are expanding the information available to your doctors and other healthcare providers, no matter where you are in Aotearoa New Zealand.

On this page

Expanding access to your health information

We’re making it easier for your doctors and other healthcare providers to access the information they need—no matter where you are in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This helps them give you the best possible treatment and care, when and where you need it.

  • Your choice matters: You decide how much of your health information is securely shared with the health professionals caring for you.
  • Your privacy is protected: Strong privacy and security controls are in place to safeguard your health information and monitor who accesses it.

Why we collect and share health information

People receive healthcare in different places, such as at general practices, community care clinics, or in hospital. This includes when you need emergency care or have travelled away from home and cannot see your usual doctor.

For the best treatment and care, it is important healthcare providers have the latest information about your health. We are making it easier for your health information to be securely shared, so your records are available for your immediate care wherever you are in New Zealand. This information is provided through the Shared Digital Health Record clinical data connector.

Health information sharing already happens in some regions. We are making sure it happens consistently across the country, so your health information can follow you wherever you go.

What is collected and shared

We are going to hold a copy of some of your information from the IT systems of places like general practice, urgent care and telehealth services. The Shared Digital Health Record will also collect information from national Health NZ databases. This will enable this information to be shared with other approved healthcare providers when they are providing care to you.

The initial health information we collect and share from your general practice will include:

  • your allergies and intolerances, for example, an allergy to penicillin
  • your medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and long-term conditions
  • your vital signs like your temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. 

Other information such as appointment details — including clinical notes — may be shared in the future.

Information from Health NZ national databases may also be shared in the future, such as details of:

  • prescribed medicines
  • immunisation records
  • radiology and laboratory results
  • hospital information, such as referrals, clinical letters and discharge summaries.

We will keep this page updated as new types of information are shared.

Healthcare professionals will begin to see the health information that is available through the Shared Digital Health Record from mid-2026.

We also hope to share your information directly with you in future. If we do this, we will be able to let you know when we are adding services and give you more choices about what types of information can be shared.

Who can access your health information

From around mid-2026, general practices’ IT systems will begin connecting to the Shared Digital Health Record data service.

It’s expected that these healthcare providers, nationwide, will be able to view your health information when providing you with care:

  • general practice
  • urgent care clinics
  • after-hours clinics
  • hospitals
  • ambulance.

We will update this page if new health provider types are added.

How we will protect your health information

Your health information is confidential and only shared with people providing you with treatment and care. There are strict privacy and security controls in place to protect your health information and to monitor who looks at your information.

Your choices and what you need to do

Your general practice will communicate with patients about the Shared Digital Health Record before they start to share your health information.

You do not need to do anything if you are happy for your health information to be shared. 
From mid-2026, some of your health details will be available to other healthcare providers involved in your care.

You can also choose to limit or block your information from being shared. No matter what you decide, you will still receive healthcare.

Your options

Open all

Share my information

You are happy for your health information to be shared through the Shared Digital Health Record as this helps your healthcare team support you quickly and safely.

No action needed.

Mark private

You are okay with sharing most of your health information through the Shared Digital Health Record but want to keep certain things between you and your healthcare provider. You understand this might limit what information is available to others involved in your care.

Speak with your doctor or healthcare provider about which records you would like to keep private.

Only this healthcare clinic

You prefer to keep your health information only with the healthcare provider that collected it and not shared through the Shared Digital Health Record. You understand that this means other healthcare services will not have all your health information.

Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Block all sharing

You are choosing to completely opt out of sharing any of your health information from any healthcare clinic or source. This means the people treating you, including in emergencies, may not have access to your health information unless you are able to tell them.

If you opt out (block all sharing), any existing information in the Shared Digital Health Record will be archived and may not be accessible even if you opt back in later.

If you opt back in (unblock all sharing), there will be a short delay before your sharing settings are updated. Your health record may be incomplete because Health NZ cannot retrieve past data from some healthcare providers, like urgent care or telehealth.

To opt in or opt out 

You can change your sharing preferences at any time.

Your information

You have the right to see the health information we collect about you and ask for corrections to be made. We may need to refer you back to your healthcare provider to correct any clinical errors.

You can change your sharing preferences at any time. There will be a short delay before your preferences will be updated.

If you choose not to share, or to withhold some information, we will inform any healthcare providers who try to access your data that you have made that choice. This is so they understand that not all information about your medical history is available. They can ask you directly for additional information if they need to.

Find out more

To find out more about how your health information is protected, contact us at hnzprivacy@tewhatuora.govt.nz and we can give you a copy of our privacy impact assessment. 

For help and support

If you have questions about the collection of your health information through the Shared Digital Health Record:

You can also call or email us to:

  • opt out or back into the Shared Digital Health Record
  • request a copy of your information in the Shared Digital Health Record.

Download the Shared Digital Health Record opt out or opt in request formexternal linkPDF

Download the Shared Digital Health Record information request formexternal linkPDF

If you have a privacy question or complaint, contact hnzprivacy@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
PO Box 793
Wellington 6140
New Zealand