§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the new National Health Service register will help in tracing the medical records of those who suffer from hereditary conditions such as glaucoma and diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe NHS central register exists to facilitate the transfer of medical records when patients move from one family practitioner committee area to another. It is not used to record whether people suffer from hereditary conditions; this and other clinical information is contained in the individual medical records which are confidential. No change in the scope of the register is planned, but computerisation in 1990 is intended to speed up considerably the tracing and transfer of the medical records of all patients.