§ 32. Mr. R. Harrisasked the Minister of Health why the name of Mr. Charles Vowles, late of 45, St. Paul's Close, Hounslow, who died seven years ago, is still on the list of National Health patients of a doctor; and what steps are taken to strike a patient off a doctor's list when that patient dies.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am unable to account for this error, which has now been rectified. Under present arrangements, which differ from those obtaining before the inception of the National Health Service, Registrars of Births and Deaths are asked to collect the medical card of a deceased person or to obtain identifying details for transmission to the appropriate Executive Council. Doctors are also requested to return to the Executive Council the medical record of any person whose death is known to them.