HC Deb 04 July 1989 vol 156 cc154-5W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the medical records of persons intending to reside overseas for up to a year(a) can be transferred to their doctor in the country they are living in temporarily and (b) can be made available to the persons concerned for them to pass to their doctor on arrival; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

[holding answer 3 July 1989]: When people go abroad for more than three months the medical records held by their family doctor are returned to their local family practitioner committee. Most doctors are willing to provide a summary of a patient's relevant medical history for the patient to take to the new doctor overseas. However, they are not required to do this and they may make a charge.