HC Deb 28 April 2004 vol 420 cc1094-5W
Mr. Lansley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients have online secure access to their electronic patient records. [167702]

Mr. Hutton

Currently, no patients have online or electronic access to their medical records.

This functionality is planned as part of the national health service care records service that will begin to be rolled out from summer 2004, with phased implementation up to 2010.

The Department is exploring different ways that patients can access their own records through the "HealthSpace" project, which is supported by NHS Direct Online. In future, the intention is to provide "HealthSpace" as the gateway through which users can access a summary of their NHS care record when it becomes available electronically. The facilities in "HealthSpace" required to do this will build over time, with full implementation expected by the end of 2008. The secure authentication, access and review of any electronic patient records is of paramount concern and will be both proven and robust before any system can go live.