NEW ZEALAND HEALTH INFORMATION SERVICE
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Mental Health Information National Collection (MHINC)
Questions and Answers
Contents:
- Introduction
- Why is this information being collected?
- What sort of information is being collected?
- Can I be identified in the information collected?
- What about privacy?
- How do I know my information is held securely?
- Who will use the information?
- Can I view the information held about me in the MHINC database?
- How do I get more information on the MHINC?
- How to contact us
Introduction
The information on this page is for people who are receiving mental health or alcohol and drugs services.
Detailed data about you is kept by healthcare providers to ensure that you receive the most appropriate and best care possible. A summary of this information is sent to the national data collections maintained by the Ministry of Health. The main data collection for mental health is called the Mental Health Information Collection (MHINC).
Why is this information being collected?
In order to provide better publicly funded healthcare, the Government needs to know what services are being provided and whether the services are being provided to the people who require them, at the right time and in the right places. Once information is collected it can be grouped together and analysed to find out what the trends and patterns of service provision are.
What sort of information is being collected?
All publicly funded health services that provide mental health care are required to contribute to MHINC.
This includes:
- publicly funded hospitals
- residential and supported accommodation services
- community mental health services
- alcohol and drug services.
The information collected includes the kinds of services you receive as well as your gender, date of birth, ethnicity, diagnosis, legal status, referral and discharge information. Information is coded by the organisation that you receive your service from and sent to the Ministry of Health.
Can I be identified in the information collected?
To eliminate duplication, data is collected about each person using the National Health Index (NHI) number to protect privacy. An NHI number is a unique number assigned to each person who uses any public health service in New Zealand. Your NHI number will be stored in an encrypted (coded) format in the MHINC database to further protect your information.
What about privacy?
The collection and management of the information contained on the MHINC is covered by the Health Information Privacy Code 1994 and the Privacy Act 1993. Copies of each of these documents can be obtained from your local library, the Privacy Commissioner’s Office or by viewing the web site www.privacy.org.nz.
How do I know my information is held securely?
The New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS) holds the database and has strict controls on who can access the information. NZHIS also monitors the accuracy of the information and maintains the quality and integrity of the collection.
Who will use the information?
Summaries of the data will be used by the Ministry of Health, the Mental Health Commission, researchers, healthcare providers, consumers and tangata whai ora. All data is kept in a coded format, so you will not be identifiable in these summaries.
The only way that information identifying you could be made available to other parties such as researchers is with Ethics Committee approval.
Can I view the information held about me in the MHINC database?
Yes, you can view your own personal information held by NZHIS. Processes are in place to ensure that the information is provided only to you or a person such as a family member/whanau or guardian who legally represents you.
The information held in the MHINC about you is a summary of the information that the healthcare provider has collected. If you disagree with the data held about you, you will be advised to contact the healthcare provider so that information can be changed at source.
How do I get more information on the MHINC?
Please contact the New Zealand Health Information Service.
You can also discuss the MHINC with your keyworker or clinician, or the privacy officer at your mental health provider or organisation.
How to contact us
phone: (04) 496 2000
fax: (04) 496 2340
e-mail:information@moh.govt.nz
postal address: PO Box 5013, Wellington.