Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what checks are in place to ensure that information from NHS records used in courts has been obtained without coercion.

The Department does not routinely monitor how National Health Service records are used in courts but there are extensive safeguards in place to ensure people are not being coerced to access their medical records online, which NHS England has developed by engaging with professional bodies, patients, charities, and safeguarding experts.

This engagement has also helped shape NHS England’s patient and general practitioner (GP) communications packs and advice, the messages issued on the NHS App and the NHS website and system changes. Communication packs have also been issued to over 50 charities which support people who may be at risk.

People can only access their prospective records via the NHS App. Before viewing their record in the NHS App, users are given advice about what to do if they are being pressured to share their information. Patients are able to prevent access via an online process, by disabling their NHS login or can request that their GP redact details of specific consultations or treatment.