Camden New Journal - Letters: Health service

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 30 August 2007

Who is responsible for health service debt?

• THE report that the Royal Free has £4.5 million of outstanding debt from private and overseas patients (Millions owed to hospitals from overseas, August 23) is not surprising.
In October 2004 the net debt was £2.962 million and I discussed the matter with the then finance director, who has now left the Royal Free.
At the time all patients had to sign an undertaking to pay and were required to pay deposits from all self-funding patients.
The Royal Free was exploring the purchase of a dedicated private patients’ management system.
I assume that due to all the cut backs that this did not take place. However, of greater concern was the prevailing attitude that if the Royal Free did not have private patients, these patients would go elsewhere.
Furthermore, although we were told that allowances had been made for extended payment, such as 90 days, I was not convinced and there appeared to be some creative accounting.
Yet once again we ask: will anyone take any responsibility? Will the trust or the managers? We all know the answer:
The debt will be written off and the taxpayer will foot the bill.
RALPH ESCHWEGE
East Finchley, N2

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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