AQW 27654/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health to outline how (i) GP; and (ii) other, medical records are transferred from (a) England; (b) Scotland; (c) and; Wales, when someone moves to Northern Ireland.

Asked by Kate Nicholl MLA on 23 May 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
23 May 2025
Answer due by
10 June 2025
Answered
27 October 2025157 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

When a patient registers with a GP practice in Northern Ireland and the patient has been identified as having relocated to Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom. a notification is sent by the Business Services Organisation to the relevant health authority (in the United Kingdom) which requests the medical records of the patient to be forwarded to BSO.

Records are transferred from England and Wales to BSO by courier and from Scotland via a postal delivery service. When records are received by BSO they are forwarded to the new GP practice by BSO courier.

Official sources