Lord Winstanleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what circumstances and by whose authority are the personal particulars of patients disclosed to the CID without their consent when general practitioners' claims for "item of service" payments are investigated.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonUsually the consent of the patient and/or the doctor concerned is required prior to disclosure of personal health information. Disclosure to the police should be wholly exceptional but the Government recognise that in certain rare circumstances—for example, where a serious crime is suspected—the public interest may prevail over the individual patient's right to confidentiality.