Privacy Policy

Northcote Dentist is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020 (HIPC).

We understand that your health information is highly sensitive. We take all reasonable steps to ensure your information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed in a secure and responsible manner.

By using our website or engaging with our services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Contact details, including phone number, email address, and home address
• Emergency contact details

Health Information:

• Medical and dental history
• Current medications and allergies
• Treatment plans, clinical notes, and diagnostic records
• X-rays, scans, and other imaging
• Health conditions relevant to your dental care

Administrative and Financial Information:

• Appointment history
• Billing and payment details
• Insurance or ACC details (if applicable)

We collect your information through various channels, including:

• Online forms on our website
• Appointment booking systems
• In-person consultations
• Phone or email communication
• Medical history forms completed at the clinic
• Referrals from other healthcare providers

Where possible, we collect information directly from you. In some cases, we may collect information from third parties with your consent.

We collect and use your information for the following purposes:

1. Providing safe and effective dental care
2. Diagnosing and planning treatment
3. Communicating with you about appointments, reminders, and follow-ups
4. Processing payments and managing billing
5. Liaising with other healthcare providers, specialists, and laboratories
6. Meeting legal and regulatory obligations
7. Improving our services and patient experience

We will only use your information for purposes that are directly related to your care or as permitted by law.

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, unauthorised access, use, modification, or disclosure.

This includes:

• Secure electronic practice management systems
• Password-protected databases and access controls
• Encrypted data storage where appropriate
• Secure storage of physical records
• Staff training on privacy and confidentiality obligations

While we take strong precautions, no system can guarantee absolute security.

We may disclose your information where necessary for your care or as required by law, including:

• Dental specialists and other healthcare providers involved in your treatment
• Dental laboratories for the creation of prosthetics or appliances
• Insurance providers or ACC (with your consent)
• Regulatory authorities where required
• Legal or government agencies where disclosure is required by law

We will only share the minimum necessary information and, where appropriate, obtain your consent.

We may use trusted third-party providers to support our services, including:

• Online appointment booking systems
• Payment processing providers
• IT and cloud storage providers
• Email and communication platforms

These providers may store or process your data on our behalf. We take reasonable steps to ensure they comply with privacy obligations and safeguard your information.

Our website may use cookies and tracking technologies to:

• Improve website functionality and user experience
• Analyse website traffic and performance
• Support marketing and advertising activities

Cookies do not typically identify you personally, but they may collect information about your browsing behaviour.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Under the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code, you have the right to:

• Access the personal and health information we hold about you
• Request correction of your information if it is inaccurate or incomplete

We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with legal requirements.

To request access to or correction of your information, please contact us using the details below.

We may require proof of identity before releasing information.

Contact for Privacy Requests:

Email: northcotefamilydentist@gmail.com

Phone: +64 27 900 0004

We retain your health information in accordance with New Zealand healthcare regulations.

Typically:

• Patient records are retained for a minimum of 10 years from the date of last treatment
• For children, records may be retained until a specified period after they reach adulthood

After this period, records may be securely destroyed or anonymised.

If you believe your privacy has been breached, please contact us first so we can work to resolve the issue promptly.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in New Zealand.

Website: https://www.privacy.org.nz/

Phone: 0800 803 909

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us:

Northcote Dentist

Address: 46c Lake Road, Northcote Auckland

Email: northcotefamilydentist@gmail.com

Phone: +64 27 900 0004