BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field has secured Government action to help poor and vulnerable patients avoid being charged to access their medical records.

He recently exposed the scandal of people being charged up to £50 by their doctor if they required medical evidence to support a benefit appeal, or to apply for certain discounts on their utilities.

Following his campaign, health secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced that all patients will be able to access their medical records online by April. Access will be free of charge.

Commenting on the announcement, Frank said: "Birkenhead has such good doctors, but I can't believe they fully understood what a blow it was to many of their patients to be charged these huge sums for their medical notes.

"I'm pleased the Government has responded to my campaign by seeking to protect poor patients.

"But I'll now be pushing Ministers to make sure these completely unacceptable charges are phased out."