Can a school give student information to a DHB dental service?

Yes, it can but the school should inform parents and caregivers that it will be doing so. Public dental services (run by Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand) collect student details for a lawful purpose connected with a function or activity of being a health agency. In this instance it is to deliver free dental services to children.

Public dental services use school rolls to cross check with their own records so they can pick up children who might not be enrolled or whose details are out of date. There are obvious benefits for students in receiving dental health care and a low likelihood of any harm arising from the disclosure of student details.

The school should review and consider the purposes for which it collects and uses student information and ensure that those purposes have been communicated to parents. If on review a school finds that parents are not aware that information may be provided for the purpose of delivering dental services, the school should notify parents and caregivers through a blanket communication like the school newsletter or special update.

We also recommend the school update its policy on the purposes that student information will be used for, if this is missing from its existing policy.