NHI brochure

NEW ZEALAND HEALTH INFORMATION SERVICE

National Health Index
Contents:

What is an NHI number?

The National Health Index (NHI) number is a unique number assigned to you to help identify you when you use health and disability services.

How long have NHI numbers been used in New Zealand?

Health professionals have been using a form of the NHI number for more than 20 years. All New Zealand-born children receive their own NHI number at birth. About 95 percent of New Zealand citizens now have their own NHI number.

What does an NHI number look like?

It is a unique combination of numbers and letters, such as ABC1234. The information stored on your NHI number is your:

name and address
date of birth
sex
ethnicity.

Your NHI number is not your health record, nor does it contain clinical information. You will keep the same number, even when you marry or change your name.

Who looks after the NHI?

The New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS), which is part of the Ministry of Health, is the custodian of the NHI system. It has to meet all the requirements of the Privacy Act 1993 as well as the Health Information Privacy Code 1994. The NZHIS ensures that your information is secure and that procedures are in place to prevent unauthorised access.

Who can access my NHI number?

Access to your NHI number is restricted to health workers authorised by NZHIS and District Health Boards. These include family doctors, nurses, midwives, and hospital specialists. Creation or change of NHI details is further restricted to those authorised in the Health Information Privacy Code.

Why are NHI numbers important?

For you to get the best care and support, your health professional must have the right information about you at the right time. Your NHI number identifies you and makes sure you are correctly matched with your health record. Having a unique number helps to avoid confusion when other people may have a similar name to you, your name is spelt incorrectly or if you have changed your name.

How is the NHI number used?

The NHI number matches who you are with patient documentation and clinical systems in a hospital. The NHI number is on patient labels, which are used on patient-related documents in the hospital. Modern healthcare often requires a team approach by different health workers. Family doctors, hospital specialists and other health workers will include your NHI number in correspondence about you. For example, the hospital may send a discharge letter to your doctor letting them know of any future treatment you may need. Using your unique NHI number in the correspondence helps make sure they are talking about you.

Where regional services exist, such as a laboratory service, your family doctor may receive results electronically. Your NHI number is included when the results are sent to your doctor. Your doctor uses the NHI number to ensure your results are associated with you and are placed on your medical file.

What is the Medical Warnings System?

If you have a significant medical condition such as diabetes, or an allergy to certain medicines, such as an antibiotic, this information may be stored in another system managed by NZHIS, called the Medical Warnings System (MWS). A ‘flag’ attached to your NHI number points health workers involved with your care to this information on the MWS. It may be important that this information is taken into account when clinical decisions are being made about you. The MWS may speak for you when you cannot, such as when you are unconscious.

Will my health information be kept private?

Your NHI number helps keep your health information private. Personal information with your NHI number included is more secure than the same information with your name and address on it. The NHI complies with all Privacy Act and Health Information Privacy Code requirements, which can be viewed online at www.privacy.org.nz/comply/hinfopc.html.

How do I find out more about my NHI number and the information that is attached to it?

Contact the Ministry of Health’s Privacy Officer:

Privacy Officer
New Zealand Health Information Service
Ministry of Health
Po Box 5013
Wellington
telephone: (04) 496 2000
fax: (04) 496 2340
e-mail: data-enquiries@moh.govt.nz

You will be asked to produce formal identification before any information is made available to you.

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