Your antenatal blood tests including HIV will be sent in confidence to your GP or Lead Maternity Carer and your local District Health Board.  Your personal details are carefully protected. 

If you do have the virus, you will receive care that is professional, respectful and confidential.

Even if you choose not to have the HIV test you will be asked if the DHB can be informed of your choice.  This is to make sure that the programme is safe and effective for women, regardless of whether they choose to be tested or not.  The programme will be monitored at a national level.  Details that could be used to identify you will not be used by the national programme unless you specifically consent to this occurring.

Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights

The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights spells out your rights when using any health services. You have a number of rights under the code, including:

• your right to the information you need to make decisions about your health. Information should be given to you in a way that you can understand
• your right to make an informed choice and give informed consent before you receive treatment
• your right to be treated with respect, taking into account your cultural needs and values
• your right to services being provided with reasonable care and skill.

If you want more information about your rights, you can contact the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner, freephone 0800 11 22 33 or website http://www.hdc.org.nz/.

How do you make a complaint about any part of the programme?

The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights allows you to make a complaint in a way that is appropriate to you. You should not be treated unfairly in any way because you have made a complaint. You can contact an advocate from the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner to help you with your complaint, freephone 0800 11 22 33 or website http://www.hdc.org.nz/.