Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights

Your rights are protected by the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights. The Programme has a legal obligation under the Health Information Privacy Code. Your clinical record and breast x-rays will be kept confidential and stored securely.

To assess the effectiveness and quality of the programme, BreastScreen Aotearoa wishes to notify you that the following information about you might be collected:

• any information relating to treatment you have received for your breasts in the past and may require in the future
• any relevant clinical information, your mammograms and reports.

The information will be collected from public and private providers, by the Ministry of Health or its agents, for example another entity designated by the National Screening Unit or BreastScreen Aotearoa, the NZ Health Information Service or the National Cancer Registry through your National Health Index Number (NHI). 

As a result of collecting this information, your mammograms will be able to be assessed more accurately, BreastScreen Aotearoa will be able to provide you with any necessary follow-up assessment and you will be invited to attend your next mammogram.

You will receive more information about your rights when you attend a BreastScreen Aotearoa Centre. We welcome any comments about your visit to the BreastScreen Aotearoa facility and encourage you to tell your friends about the Programme.

Confidentiality

We are aware that confidentiality is very important to women.  The programme has a legal obligation to adhere to the terms of the Health Information Privacy Code. Your results will be sent only to you, and also to your doctor if you have agreed to this. Your mammogram is then stored securely and confidentially. 

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 ring BreastScreen Aotearoa on freephone 0800 270 200 to find out more about the best options for you. 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/.