Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for patient care of (a) levels of communication and (b) information sharing facilities between the NHS in England and health services in the devolved nations.

At an operational level, there are arrangements in place to support the sharing of information across borders. Organisations share information where appropriate to inform good decision-making, support healthcare and minimise risk to patients.

Legal routes are available to allow the sharing of health data in the United Kingdom to support individual care and to improve health outcomes. We are working with the devolved administrations to ensure that health and care data can be accessed safely and effectively. We have established an agreed processes to manage cross-border healthcare with Wales for patients who live on the English and Welsh border.