At Paterson Burn Optometrists, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal and health information.

To provide you with the best possible eye care, we need to collect and hold certain information about you. We understand that this information is personal and confidential, and we take our responsibility to protect it seriously.

We manage your information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020, the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, and other relevant New Zealand laws and regulations.
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What Information Do We Collect? ‍

We collect information that helps us provide safe, effective, and personalised eye care services. This may include:

• Your name, address, phone number, and email address
• Your date of birth and other identifying information
• Information about your eye health, vision, medical history, medications, and treatment
• Referral information from other health professionals
• Details of appointments, purchases, and services you receive from us
• Payment and account information
• Information you provide through website enquiries, forms, reviews, competitions, or promotions

Most information is collected directly from you. With your consent, or where permitted by law, we may also receive information from other health professionals, ACC, insurers, family members acting on your behalf, or other organisations involved in your care.
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Why Do We Collect Your Information?

We use your information to:

• Provide optometry and eye health services
• Maintain accurate clinical records
• Communicate with you about appointments, recalls, products, and follow-up care
• Process payments and manage your account
• Meet our legal and professional obligations
• Monitor and improve the quality of care and service we provide
• Improve our website, products, services, and patient experience
• Share relevant eye health information, promotions, or product updates where appropriate

You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.
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Who Can Access Your Information?

Your information is only available to people who need it to provide care or support our services.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Your optometrist
• Clinical and dispensing team members involved in your care
• Practice managers and authorised administrative staff
• Trusted providers who support our patient management systems, IT systems, communications, website hosting, or secure data storage
• Other healthcare professionals involved in your care where appropriate and authorised

All Paterson Burn team members are required to maintain strict confidentiality and only access patient information when necessary to perform their role.
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Authorised Contacts and Caregivers

Protecting patient privacy is an important part of the care we provide.

We will only discuss personal or health information with:

• The patient themselves
• A parent, guardian, or designated caregiver authorised by the patient or recorded on their file
• A person who is legally entitled to receive that information

For privacy reasons, being responsible for payment of an account or purchasing eyewear for another person does not automatically provide access to that person's clinical records or health information.

If you would like someone else to discuss appointments, prescriptions, treatment recommendations, or clinical information on your behalf, please let us know and we can add them as an authorised contact.
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Children and Young People‍

We provide eye care services to patients of all ages.

Parents and guardians will generally be involved in a child's care. However, as children mature, they may be entitled to increasing privacy regarding their health information.

When considering requests for access to a young person's information, we will comply with the Privacy Act 2020 and Health Information Privacy Code 2020 while supporting the wellbeing and best interests of the patient.
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Contacting You

As part of providing our services, we may contact you by:

• Phone
• Text message
• Email
• Post

This may relate to:

• Appointment reminders and recalls
• Clinical follow-up care
• Orders and collections
• Account matters
• Information relating to services we provide

Please let us know if your contact details change so we can keep our records up to date.
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Website Analytics, Cookies and Advertising

Like many websites, we use cookies and analytics tools to help us understand how visitors use our website and how we can improve it.

This may include information such as:

• Your IP address
• Browser and device type
• Operating system
• Pages viewed on our website
• General website activity and navigation patterns

Cookies help us improve website performance, ensure relevant content is displayed, and provide a better online experience.

Most web browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.
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Google Advertising

We may use Google Advertising features, including remarketing, to display relevant advertisements to people who have previously visited our website.

Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to show advertisements based on previous interactions with our website.

You can manage your advertising preferences through your Google account settings.
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When Do We Share Information?

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information when:

• You have given us permission
• It is necessary to support your care or treatment
• We are required or authorised by law
• There is a serious threat to someone's health or safety
• Information is requested by a regulator, court, tribunal, or authority legally entitled to receive it

Whenever information is shared, we aim to provide only the information necessary for that purpose.
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How Do We Protect Your Information?

We take reasonable steps to keep your information safe and secure.

This includes:

• Secure clinical record systems
• Password-protected technology and systems
• Restricted access to patient information
• Staff confidentiality obligations
• Appropriate data security and storage processes

While no system can eliminate all risk, we are committed to maintaining safeguards that help protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.
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Your Right to Access and Correct Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to ask for any information you believe is incorrect to be corrected.

If you would like access to your records or wish to request a correction, please contact our Privacy Officer.

In some circumstances, legislation may allow us to withhold certain information. If this occurs, we will explain the reasons for our decision.
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How Long Do We Keep Information?

As a healthcare provider, we are required to retain patient records for specified periods under New Zealand health regulations and professional standards.

When information is no longer required, it will be securely destroyed or permanently de-identified.
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Privacy Concerns or Complaints

If you have any concerns about how we have handled your personal information, we encourage you to contact us.

We are committed to addressing privacy concerns fairly, respectfully, and as quickly as possible.

When we receive a privacy complaint, we will:

• Acknowledge your concern as soon as practicable
• Investigate the matter confidentially and fairly
• Keep you informed if additional time is required
• Provide a response outlining the outcome of our review

Raising a privacy concern will not affect the care or service you receive from us.
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Contact Our Privacy Officer

If you would like to access your information, request a correction, or raise a privacy concern, please contact:

Privacy Officer
Paterson Burn Optometrists
Email: privacy@patersonburn.co.nz

If You Are Not Satisfied

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for independent advice or assistance.
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Office of the Privacy Commissioner
Phone: 0800 803 909
Website: Office of the Privacy Commissioner
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Updates to This Policy

From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on our website.
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Last updated: July 2026