Written question asked by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Monday, 14 March 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 March 2022. It was answered by Maria Caulfield (Conservative) on Monday, 21 March 2022 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Medical Records: Firearms

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the adequacy of provision of IT software to general practitioners to facilitate the placing of markers on the medical notes of those licensed to hold firearms.

Answer: The Department is working with the Home Office and NHS Digital to develop a national firearms digital marker for use within general practice. NHS Digital plans to expand existing patient record content with additional markers to indicate whether the patient has applied for or holds a firearms license. These new markers will enhance existing local arrangements and alerting functionality to alert the general practitioner to any medical conditions as part of the license application process or after the license has been granted, which may impact the patient’s suitability to hold a firearms license.

Secondary information