The National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR) contains basic demographic details of everyone who:
- was born in Scotland
- died in Scotland
- is or has been on the list of a GP in Scotland
We maintain the NHSCR. Keeping the NHSCR up to date is important as its data outputs are used:
- by the NHS
- by local authorities in Scotland
- for statistical and research purposes
More information about the use of NHSCR data can be found in the NHSCR Privacy Notice.
Medical research
The NHSCR can be used for medical research studies approved by the Health and Social Care Public Benefit and Privacy Panel (HSC-PBPP). If an individual is a participant in a medical research study, their NHSCR record is flagged so that medical researchers can be informed of events e.g. deaths, cancer registrations relating to individuals in their study.
For further information about the using the NHSCR for Medical Research email NHSCR medical research enquiries.
Background to the NHSCR
When the NHS was formed in 1948, there was no central index of patients registered with a general medical practitioner (GP). This resulted in people moving about the country appearing on more than one list.
The NHSCR was set up in the early 1950s as an index to control this inflation using the 1939 National Identity Register as the foundation.
About the 1939 National Identity Register
On September 29th 1939, a National Register was taken that listed the personal details of every civilian in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Register was a critical tool in coordinating the war effort and was used for:
- issuing national identity cards,
- issuing food and clothing ration books,
- identifying children eligible for evacuation from areas vulnerable to bombing,
- identifying adults eligible for call up into the Armed Forces.
In Scotland, The Registrar General for Scotland, who had been making preparations for the 1941 census, was given responsibility for this task. Enumerators visited every household and every person was given their own unique civil registration number, based on where they were living on enumeration night.
Details of people who are contained within the 1939 Register who have since died are now being made available.
You can get more information on how to order an official extract.
