Medical smart card plan outlined

The European health insurance card will replace existing health forms

NHS patients may get new smart cards controlling access to their personal health data.

The Department of Health is looking into the prospect while developing European Health Insurance Cards.

The NHS card could contain personal information, such as NHS number and date of birth, said a spokesman.

The insurance cards will replace the E111 forms which entitle temporary visitors to free emergency care abroad if needed.

Cut red tape

Officials hope such cards will cut bureaucracy and form filling.

The European health insurance card, which will be introduced by December 2005, will contain the bare minimum of personal information about the holder, such as surname and first name and an identification number.

It is proposed that the card would be valid for up to five years, in contrast to the current situation where people have to fill out a wide variety of different forms depending on whether they are on holiday or studying or working abroad.

Thirteen European countries have already begun to introduce the new health insurance card.

The remaining 16 European counties, including the UK, plan to phase in the card by the end of next year.

The idea of an NHS Card, which could piggyback on the health insurance card, was mooted in the NHS improvement plan published in June.

The card could contain personal information such as NHS number, name and date of birth, and could support smart access to personal data and speed confirmation of access to appropriate care.

A spokesman from the Department of Health said the insurance card and the NHS smart could be the same card.

"The Government is committed to introducing the European health card by the end of next year and ensuring that it will be easier to apply for and to use.

"Parallel to that we will be developing the NHS card.

"We will publish proposals in due course," he said.