Madam, – It is regrettable that Cllr Pádraig Conneely did not read that part of the 2008 Annual Report of the Comptroller Auditor General that dealt with outstanding hospitals fees before commenting publicly (Home News, September 23rd).
Had he done so, he would have learnt that the primary cause of delay in hospitals recovering fees from health insurers is outmoded administration systems. This does not seem to arise in private hospitals. He would also have learnt that neither the hospital or the consultant is paid by the health insurer until a fully completed signed claim form is submitted. His assertion as to the reason why consultants do not sign the forms could not therefore apply.
I hope the Cllr Conneely will be somewhat more searching when he next convenes the HSE West Health Forum. – Yours, etc,