Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what grounds a hospital can change its records regarding a patient's next of kin (a) after the patient has been admitted and (b) without the consent of the (i) patient and (ii) patient's next of kin as designated at the time of admission; and what processes are in place for (A) recording and (B) changing hospital records on a patient's next of kin. [183219]
[Due for Answer on 9 May]
ANSWER
The Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care (Will Quince): National Health Service trusts may ask a patient to nominate their next of kin on admission to hospital. A hospital will not ordinarily change a patient’s next of kin unless the patient has requested this. In the event a patient does not have a next of kin, health professionals may use their discretion to liaise with family and friends to appoint one.
If it is an emergency and it is unclear who the patient’s next of kin is, and the patient is unable to communicate their choice, the hospital will normally seek advice from the person they believe is closest to the patient and allocate one. Where the next of kin has been changed, both the general practice and hospital records would be duly updated.
NHS England provides further information on amending patient and service user records, which is available at the following link: