NSW Health (including local health districts, health organisations and specialty networks) is committed to protecting your privacy and is required to manage your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIP Act) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) (HRIP Act).
The Check-In Patient Portal (the “Portal”) is designed to provide patients with a streamlined health service experience by simplifying management of medical appointments with NSW Health hospitals/ clinics and queue management upon arrival. The Portal is administered by eHealth NSW (a NSW Health organisation) and can be accessed via mobile phone, tablet or computer.
When this Privacy Collection Statement applies
This Privacy Collection Statement applies when you register to access and use the Portal as patient, or as a carer/guardian, on behalf of a patient.
Why we collect your information
Your information is collected by NSW Health for the purposes of providing you access to the Portal for management of your medical appointments with participating NSW Health hospitals/clinics, including communicating with you and check in upon arrival to the hospital/clinic on the day of your appointment.
Information we collect from you
To use the Portal, you must have an appointment with a participating NSW Health hospital/clinic and a mobile number or email address.
Once you have an appointment booked, you will receive a text message from the hospital/clinic with a link to the Portal. If you opt in to register, you will be asked to provide the following information:
- mobile phone number or
- email address and
- date of birth.
If the details provided are verified by the hospital/clinic, you will receive a one-time password (OTP) on the mobile number or email address you provide. You will then need to enter the OTP and your first and last name to complete your registration and log in to the Portal.
How we handle your information
Your information is handled by NSW Health in accordance with the NSW privacy legislation and NSW Health policy directives and guidelines.
When you register to access the Portal, the recipient of your information will be eHealth NSW, which administers the Portal, and the NSW Health hospital/ clinic that you are attending for your appointment.
NSW Health may use the information you provide to:
- communicate with you via text message or email about your appointment such as reschedules, cancellations, delays
- notify you via text message about your place in the queue when you check in on the day of your appointment
- send you forms/questionnaires for completion prior to your appointment
- send you feedback/survey forms post appointment.
We may also disclose information to third party contracted service providers that assist us with administering the Portal, including system and IT support. As part of these activities, we may monitor event and audit logs which track access to and activity on the Portal.
Your personal and health information may also be used or disclosed for the purposes outlined in the NSW Heath Privacy Leaflet for Patients.
Providing your information to us
Registering to use the Portal and providing your details is voluntary, however if the information requested is not provided, you will not be able to access and use the Portal.
Amending and accessing your information
If your personal details in the Portal are incorrect, you can send a request to update the information via the Portal. This will be received by the relevant hospital/clinic you are attending to review and action. Alternatively, you can contact the hospital/ clinic directly.
Further information
More information on how NSW Health manages privacy can be accessed via the NSW Health Patient Privacy web page including:
- NSW Heath Privacy Leaflet for Patients - which outlines how NSW Health is required to protect your health information.
- NSW Health Privacy Manual for Health Information - which describes in detail NSW Health’s obligations and responsibilities in relation to your health information.