sbiddle:

 

- the fact we don't even know when the security guard was last tested because we don't even have a register that records tests is just simple incompetence

 

The DHB and lab both record the results of every test. So (part of) the health system does know when he/she was last tested. However, in the 1980s the concept of a national Health information system was abandoned, so each DHB set up its own records system. The disparity of records system amongst 23 DHBs makes sharing records a challenge, and the lack of leadership from MoH hasn't helped. In the last decade or so efforts have been made to regionalise these systems, somewhat successfully, especially in Auckland. But there is no single national repository of health information, and no great effort towards one.

It would be possible for an appropriately authorised person to access the 4 or 5 regional systems to look for covid testing results. It also wouldn't be difficult to route copies of covid tests to a central repository, if one existed. But there are layers of bureaucracy about ownership of the data and patient privacy to overcome. e.g. people have not agreed to their data being used in this way, so a DHB or GP cannot legally send that data to the repository, and maybe can't legally authorise a person outside the DHB to look at the patient's data.

There is also the National Immunisation Register, which was set up about a decade ago, aimed at tracking and encouraging the immunisation of children. However, it appears that this is not suitable for tracking immunisation of adults. To be fair, even 12 months ago there was no perceived need to track immunisation of adults. So apparently a new National Immunisation Register is being introduced, which will presumably be the single national repository.