HC Deb 07 December 1993 vol 234 cc190-1W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the numbers of any NHS medical cards; and what will be the cost of the changes.

Mr. Sackville

By July 1995, we will have started to replace the present national health service number where it is currently in use with one with a more suitable format. Medical cards will record the replacement number when they are reissued after this date.

The number is being replaced as part of a wider programme to make the new format number the common patient identifier for the NHS. The costs of this programme are estimated at £22 million at today's prices, over the period 1992 to 1995.