North Shore (09) 486 8900
Waitakere (09) 839 0000

Health Passport

  • The Health Passport is a booklet completed for people with communication difficulties
  • It contains information that staff may need to know about them to provide the best care and support the needs of that person

Key points

  • The Health Passport is not a medical record
  • The patient, family or caregiver completes the Passport
  • It may contain as much or as little information as the patient wants to share
  • The Health Passport stays with the patient at all times
  • It needs to be accessible to anyone who works with the patient
  • It goes home with the patient

FAQs


 

  • The Passport belongs to the patient, is kept and updated by him or her, and comes with the patient to hospital
  • Copies can be made for DHB records, but the original Passport goes home with the patient
  • The Health Passport was originally developed for people with intellectual disabilities, but can be used by anyone who may benefit from a communication tool
  •  This includes people who use English as a second language, older adults and people with disabilities, but may be used by anyone who wants to use it
  • The person, a member of their family or their caregiver, complete the bits of the Health Passport that they want staff to know about
  • People only need to complete the information that is relevant to them
  • Some Health Passports may have very little information in them, while others will be full of information
  • It is up to the patient
  • This is a patient owned communication tool
  • It should be visible and easily accessible to all staff and should be with the patient at all times
  • The aim is to make it easy to use in all New Zealand hospitals
  • As people move between hospitals, the Health Passport will remain the same, making communication easier for both staff and patients
  • The risk of the medication being incorrect and/or different to the patient’s medical record was considered high
  • It was decided not to include lists of medication in the Health Passport
  • At the hospital reception areas
  • In the Emergency Department
  • At some GP surgeries 
  • Disability service providers in the community
  • Download from Health and Disability Commission