Privacy Policy
Switch Psychology (“we,” “us,” “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. This policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal and health information.
1. Information we collect
We collect personal and health information necessary to provide psychological services, including:
- Full name, date of birth, contact details
- Health and mental health history
- Clinical notes and assessment results
- ACC claim details (if applicable)
- Payment and billing information
- Information from other health professionals or agencies (with your consent)
We also collect information through our website, such as:
- Contact form submissions
- Appointment bookings
- Website usage data (such as IP address and browser type)
2. How we use your information
Your information is used to:
- Provide psychological assessment and therapy
- Communicate with you regarding appointments and services
- Process payments and manage billing
- Coordinate care with other health professionals (with your consent)
- Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
- Improve our services and website functionality
3. Disclosure of information
We do not share your personal information without your consent, except when required or permitted by law, such as:
- When there is a serious risk to your safety or the safety of others
- When required by law enforcement or court order
- For ACC-related services and reporting
With your consent, we may share information with:
- Other health professionals involved in your care
- Family members or support persons
4. Data storage and security
We take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, unauthorised access, or misuse. Your information is stored securely in both electronic and physical formats. Access is restricted to authorised personnel only.
5. Access and correction
You have the right to access and request correction of your personal information. To do so, please contact us using the contact form. We require proof of identity before releasing information.
6. Retention of information
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide services and comply with legal obligations. Typically, health records are kept for a minimum of 10 years from the last date of service.
7. Website and cookies
Our website may use cookies to enhance user experience. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.
8. Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The most current version will be available on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
This policy is intended to comply with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. For more information on your privacy rights, visit www.privacy.org.nz