§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make national health service records available throughout EC member countries for United Kingdom citizens living abroad; and what information she has on how many previously United Kingdom registered patients requested a precis of their medical records whilst living abroad during the last five years.
§ Mr. SackvilleMedical records are the property of the national health service and are retained in this country for NHS purposes including the possible future care and treatment of the patient. Patients who plan to live abroad may approach their general practitioner to obtain a precis of their medical history or a copy of their medical records to give to any practitioner in the new country of residence.
Information is not collected on requests for medical records from United Kingdom registered patients living abroad.