HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 c693W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will have(a) ownership and (b) control of a patient record when electronic patient records are introduced. [116874]

Mr. Lammy

Patient medical records are owned by the national health service.

Physical custody and control of patient medical records is normally the responsibility of the treating practice or trust. Electronic records may physically be held by third party service organisations. In all cases, storage of, and access to records is subject to NHS security policy and standards.

Access to the content of patient medical records, whether electronic or paper, is subject to NHS security and confidentiality policy, in particular Health Service Circular HSC1988/089 "Implementing the Caldicott Report", and the provisions of the Data Protection Act (1998) and the Health and Social Care Act (2001).