§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has begun discussions with the medical profession with a view to encouraging greater access by patients to their medical records on a non-statutory basis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 14 December 1987]: Medical records are maintained for patient care and are used by doctors, nurses and other health professionals to help them in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The primary purpose remains to record what is in the best interests of patients. We consider that as a matter of principle patients should have the right to know what has been recorded about them, subject to appropriate safeguards to protect those individuals who might otherwise be harmed by the uncontrolled disclosure of their personal health information.
Discussions have already taken place between officials and representatives of certain medical bodies and meetings with others are being arranged. When these discussions 188W have been completed officials will report on the prospects for achieving substantive and timely progress in opening up medical records further on a non-statutory basis.