Wider sharing of your health information
Through the Shared Digital Health Record we are expanding the health information available to the doctors and other healthcare providers you see.
Your health information, available nationwide
We are expanding the information available to your doctors and other healthcare providers, no matter where you are in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are doing this through a new health information connector called the Shared Digital Health Record. Having this access to your information will help healthcare providers give you the best treatment and care, where and when you need it.
For example, if you are away from home and need urgent medical care, your healthcare provider will be able to see your important health information, such as:
- any allergies to medicines that you may have
- your medical conditions.
Health information sharing already happens in some regions. We are making sure it happens consistently across the country, so your health information can follow you wherever you go.
There are strong privacy and security controls in place to protect your health information and monitor who accesses it.
Privacy and security
There are strong privacy and security controls in place to protect your health information and to monitor who accesses it. Your health information will only be shared with people directly involved in your treatment and care and in line with your information sharing choices.
Health NZ will oversee where and how your health information can be accessed. IT systems and health professionals accessing your information must meet strict requirements. Each clinic or provider will need to use an approved system to access your health information through the Shared Digital Health Record data connector.
You decide what information is shared and you can request a summary of where and when your information has been accessed.
You can request a copy of your Shared Digital Health Record information by:
- phoning 0800 144 751
- completing the information request form and emailing it through to customerservice@health.govt.nz
Download the information request formPDF1015 KB
Your choices and what you need to do
You do not need to do anything if you are happy for your health information to be shared. From mid-2026, some of your health details will be available to other healthcare providers involved in your care.
You can also choose to limit or block your information from being shared. No matter what you decide, you will still receive healthcare.
Your options
Share my information
"I want my health providers to see my health information"
You are happy for your health information to be shared through the Shared Digital Health Record as this helps your healthcare team support you quickly and safely.
No action needed
Share my information
"I want my health providers to see my health information"
You are happy for your health information to be shared through the Shared Digital Health Record as this helps your healthcare team support you quickly and safely.
No action needed
Mark private
"Some things are sensitive and I would like to keep these private."
You are okay with sharing most of your health information through the Shared Digital Health Record but want to keep certain things between you and your healthcare provider. You understand this might limit what information is available to others involved in your care.
Speak with your doctor or healthcare provider about which records you would like to keep private.
Mark private
"Some things are sensitive and I would like to keep these private."
You are okay with sharing most of your health information through the Shared Digital Health Record but want to keep certain things between you and your healthcare provider. You understand this might limit what information is available to others involved in your care.
Speak with your doctor or healthcare provider about which records you would like to keep private.
Only my healthcare clinic
"I do not want my health information from this practice shared with my other healthcare providers."
You prefer to keep the health information collected by your general practice or other healthcare clinic within the clinic and not shared through the Shared Digital Health Record. You understand this means other healthcare services will not have all your health information.
Contact your general practice or other healthcare clinic to set this up.
Only my healthcare clinic
"I do not want my health information from this practice shared with my other healthcare providers."
You prefer to keep the health information collected by your general practice or other healthcare clinic within the clinic and not shared through the Shared Digital Health Record. You understand this means other healthcare services will not have all your health information.
Contact your general practice or other healthcare clinic to set this up.
Block all sharing
"I do not want any of my health information shared through the Shared Digital Health Record."
You are choosing to completely opt-out of sharing any of your health information from any healthcare clinic or source. This means the people treating you, including in emergencies, may not have access to your health information unless you are able to tell them.
If you opt out (block all sharing), any existing information in the Shared Digital Health Record will be archived and may not be accessible even if you opt back in later.
If you opt back in (unblock all sharing) there will be a short delay before your sharing settings are updated. Your health record may be incomplete, because Health NZ cannot retrieve past data from some healthcare providers, like urgent care or telehealth.
Call Health NZ on 0800 144 751 or complete the opt out/in form and email to customerservice@health.govt.nz to opt out or opt back in.
You can change your sharing preferences at any time.
Block all sharing
"I do not want any of my health information shared through the Shared Digital Health Record."
You are choosing to completely opt-out of sharing any of your health information from any healthcare clinic or source. This means the people treating you, including in emergencies, may not have access to your health information unless you are able to tell them.
If you opt out (block all sharing), any existing information in the Shared Digital Health Record will be archived and may not be accessible even if you opt back in later.
If you opt back in (unblock all sharing) there will be a short delay before your sharing settings are updated. Your health record may be incomplete, because Health NZ cannot retrieve past data from some healthcare providers, like urgent care or telehealth.
Call Health NZ on 0800 144 751 or complete the opt out/in form and email to customerservice@health.govt.nz to opt out or opt back in.
You can change your sharing preferences at any time.
How information sharing helps
Currently
A woman from Wellington visits Auckland for work. At a meeting she begins to slur her speech. She is taken to hospital with a suspected stroke. Because she is from Wellington, doctors in the hospital in Auckland cannot access her medical information.
With shared health information
Auckland hospital staff can access her medical history. They see she has a history of migraines with speech loss. They are able to treat her, knowing this important information.
Currently
An 80 year old man from Hamilton is visiting his grandchildren in Christchurch and falls over and breaks his hip. He is allergic to a pain killer but cannot remember which one. The ambulance crew cannot access his health information to check.
With shared health information
Ambulance crew access the man’s health information and see which medication he is allergic to. He is given alternative pain relief safely and without delay.
Currently
A Gisborne grandmother is looking after her three grandchildren from Nelson while their parents are overseas. The toddler becomes sick overnight. Not familiar with the child’s medical history and unable to reach her parents, Nan calls the online GP. The GP is unable to access the toddler’s health details so advises Nan to take her to the emergency department. She drives for nearly an hour from Tolaga Bay to the emergency department in Gisborne Hospital with three children, in the middle of the night.
With shared health information
The online GP can access the toddler's history and confirm there are no serious underlying issues and that she looks well. The clinician calms Nan, talks her through the toddler’s medical history, discusses what to do and what to watch out for. Nan is reassured and a long trip to the emergency department with three children in the middle of the night is averted.
Currently
A fruit picker from Whangarei has an asthma attack and visits a Nelson urgent care centre. The doctor cannot access her health information and treats her for worsening asthma symptoms.
With shared health information
The Nelson doctor can see the woman has previously had problems with specific agricultural chemicals. She has recently been exposed to these chemicals. Because they have this information, the GP gives her different treatment and care.
Currently
An ambulance crew at a Gisborne festival treats a fainting festival goer from Christchurch who is unable to communicate. They treat him for suspected heat exhaustion, unaware he has a heart condition.
With shared health information
The person’s heart condition is noted in his shared health information. He is taken to hospital urgently and receives the correct treatment and care.
Currently
A Hastings man is referred by his GP to a respiratory specialist because of concerns about his breathing. In preparing to see the man, the specialist notices discrepancies in his reported medicines between the GP record and the New Zealand ePrescription Service (NZePS). The specialist doesn’t have access to any further health information to help him understand why this is the case, so does not have a full understanding of the extent of the man’s breathing problems.
With shared health information
After noticing discrepancies in the man’s reported medicines between the GP record and the NZePS, the specialist checks the Shared Digital Health Record. He sees that the man has had several after-hours telehealth appointments for his breathing, resulting in prescriptions for steroids, inhalers and antibiotics. With this information the specialist has a better understanding of the extent of the man’s breathing problems and can move forward more quickly with his testing and treatment plan.
Who can access your health information
From around mid-2026, it is expected that these healthcare providers nationwide will be able to view your health information when providing you with care:
- general practice
- urgent care clinics
- after-hours clinics
- telehealth services
- hospitals
- ambulance.
We will update this page if new health providers are added.
Contact us for help
If you have questions about the collection of your health information through the Shared Digital Health Record, you can:
- talk to your healthcare provider
- call us on 0800 144 751
- email customerservice@health.govt.nz
You can also call or email us to:
- opt out or back into the Shared Digital Health Record
- request a copy of your information in the Shared Digital Health Record.
Download the Shared Digital Health Record opt out or opt in request formPDF810 KB
Download the Shared Digital Health Record information request formPDF1015 KB
If you have a privacy question or complaint, email customerservice@health.govt.nz