§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances NHS hospitals and trusts may withhold medical records from patients who have requested them; and what recent guidance he has issued to hospitals and trusts on this subject. [153774]
§ Ms StuartMedical records can be withheld from a patient where the record contains information that may cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of the patient or any other person or includes confidential information about a third party. Guidance on this issue was issued in 1991 and remains in force.