78.—(1) The contractor shall, if it is satisfied that the patient consents —
(a)supply in writing to a medical officer within such reasonable period as that officer, or an officer of the Department for Work and Pensions on the medical officer’s behalf and at the officer’s direction, may specify, such clinical information as the medical officer considers relevant about a patient to whom the contractor or a person acting on the contractor’s behalf has issued or has refused to issue a medical certificate; and
(b)answer any inquiries by a medical officer, or by an officer of the Department for Work and Pensions on the officer’s behalf and at the officer’s direction, about a prescription form or medical certificate issued by the contractor or on its behalf or about any statement which the contractor or a person acting on the contractor’s behalf has made in a report.
(2) For the purpose of satisfying itself that the patient has consented as required by paragraph (1), the contractor may (unless it has reason to believe the patient does not consent) rely on an assurance in writing from the medical officer, or any officer of the Department for Work and Pensions, that medical officer or officer of the Department for Work and Pensions holds the patient’s written consent.