§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why sick Gulf War veterans who request copies of their medical notes in order to assist their general practitioners are required to pay a handling charge of £10 plus 10 pence for each single sided A4 sheet, and whether they consider this practice reasonable.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)No charge is made to general practitioners who request copies of Service medical notes to assist their treatment of ex-Service personnel. Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, a charge of £10 to cover the cost of retrieval plus a photocopying charge per sheet may be made to individuals who themselves request their medical notes. The Ministry of Defence normally levies such charges, as does the National Health Service.