Galway hospital hires debt collectors

University Hospital Galway forked out almost €73,000 in twelve months to a private debt collection company to pursue patients for unpaid accident and emergency fees.

The total figure of €72,900 – revealed following a Freedom of Information request – was paid to Intrum Justitia Ireland LTD in 2013.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) West confirmed that it paid that company twice in 2013. One amount came to €26,800 and the second amount came to €46,100.

The payments relate to debt collection services for outstanding Emergency Department charges in 2013 at the city hospital.  Previous data released under FOI showed a total of €534,959 is owed to UHG for unpaid Emergency Department fees.

That figure for 2013 related to 4,923 individual records and the amount owed comprised a total of 5,375 invoices suggesting some patients have not paid for multiple visits to the Emergency Department.

“The Emergency Department payment is requested on arrival. An invoice is generated seven days after discharge and a number of reminders are sent if payment is not received. If there is no payment after twelve weeks, the request for payment is handed over to a debt collecting agency,” the HSE said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.