HC Deb 06 November 1930 vol 244 cc1030-1
61. Dr. HASTINGS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the importance of medical records in connection with the prevention and cure of disease, he is willing to authorise local education committees to transfer to local insurance committees, when so requested, copies of the medical records of children leaving school?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Sir Charles Trevelyan)

In view of the administrative difficulties involved and the interval which is likely generally to elapse between the age at which a child is last medically inspected in school and the age at which the first application for medical benefit is made, I am not at present satisfied that I should be justified in advising local education authorities to make so important a departure from the existing practice. In this connection I would remind my hon. Friend that the Board have always impressed upon local education authorities the importance of securing that the school medical records are treated as strictly confidential.

Dr. HASTINGS

Have any applications been received for these records?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I am not aware of any.

Dr. DAVIES

Are these records available for the certifying surgeons when they are examining the children?