Hospital costs after motorcycle accident.

Tonto67

I just received a bill in the door from a hospital I attended in 2000 after a motorcycle accident. I was kept in for 12 days with 2 broken wrists and 2 fractured vertebrae.
Within 3-4 years of the accident I was partially successful in my claim for damages against the other party. I was deemed to be partly responsible for the accident and so had my damages reduced accordingly.
This letter is requesting payment of over €9600 for my 12 day stay in hospital.
This is the first I have ever heard of this bill and do not have the means to pay it. The relatively small amount of damages I received in 04 is long since gone. Most was spent repaying bills that accrued in the 3-4 interim years.
I am currently preparing to return to full time education as a mature student in Sept after a long period of unemployment and so have very little disposable income, something that is likely to continue for the next 4 years at least.
Has anyone any experience of these types of situations where bills are presented over a decade after treatment is concluded and what ever happened to free healthcare. I paid the standard bill of €500ish when I was discharged from hospital. Why am I being hit with what looks like full private costs over €800 a night.
Thanks
Tony

a lawyer

afraid it's "consult a solicitor" time as this will quickly stray into giving legal advice.

in a general way however, hospitals are entitled to raise charges under the health (amendment) act 1986 where they can charge for the actual cost of treatment arising from an RTA (if the injured person is pursuing a claim for damages against some else).

of course, it might be the case that if there was no bill raised, and there is now no case, that a person would have a reasonably strong position - but it would all depend on circumstances etc.

presuming you had representation i'd go back to them to see what they would advise. i wouldn't respond to the demand at all without getting legal advice

Tonto67

Thanks,
I have contacted my solicitors office, however she is away and will return next week I was just looking for some insight in the meantime, this is going to play on my mind till its sorted.
I've been looking for information on this 1986 amendment specifically time limits but can only find "statute speak" and I am no legal eagle.
It seems to me billing 12 years after the fact is "hopeful" at best.

jhegarty

Wait for your solicitor for proper advise.

But in the mean time don't have any contact with the hospital. You can very easily restart the clock on the statue bar.

daenerysstormborn3

OP, did the solicitor handling your claim originally not contact hospital, doctors etc. to ascertain any fees due and owing? That's standard procedure where I work but not sure if that is the case in all offices.

ResearchWill

Even of still owed would the Statite of limitations not apply here.