§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the consultations which he has had with medical and consumer organisations about restriction of the circulation of medical records.
§ Mr. HayhoeIn October 1984 my Department issued for consultation a draft code on the confidentiality of personal health information (circular DA(84)25). This was sent out widely to health professional and consumer organisations and to all health and local authorities. In the light of the comments received and with the assistance of Sir Douglas Black's interprofessional working group on access to personal health information, work is proceeding to finalise the code for promulgation in a direction under section 17 of the National Health Service Act 1977 later this year.