Healthcare Debt Recovery

We believe that when it comes to healthcare debt recovery, we can chase the unchaseable. Our team are able to resolve cases where patients may have moved addresses since they received their treatment. Acting on behalf of your organisation, we will always act professionally and in a manner which protects your reputation.

This has been designed to give you a brief snapshot of the NHS debt recovery process. It is by no means an exhaustive list, just a guide to help you understand the order of the process and to aid with decision making. For full in-depth process flows for each stage, please ask the client services team.

Stage 1 – Pre legal Collections

This is a 30-day collection cycle of data cleansing, letters, emails, calls and SMS text messages to ensure all information is accurate. This step increases our chances of success for healthcare debt recovery and is completed at no cost to you. Our online Debt Manager system holds any correspondence we search, which can then be viewed and downloaded by the client.

Stage 2 – End of Collections

At the end of the Collections stage the file will be reviewed and assessed as to it’s suitablility for further action.  If the debtor is a sole trader or an individual then the next step would be to send a letter before claim (required to be sent under the Debt Recovery Pre-Action Protocol legislation)  The letter before claim gives the debtor a further 30 days to respond and includes attachments including a standard financial statement to be completed by the debtor and an information form.  If the Pre-Action Protocol is not followed and Court action is proceeded with then a creditor could be penalised by a Court for non-compliance and could face not being able to recover Court fees or costs from the debtor.

If the debtor is a business entity there is no requirement for a letter before claim and if appropriate Court action can be commenced.

Stage 3 – Legal

This stage consists of the issue of a claim form and the obtaining of judgment for the outstanding NHS healthcare debt. Once a claim form has been submitted, the debtor can decide whether to defend the claim, pay the full amount, or pay what they believe they owe. Defending the claim will escalate the case to a final Court hearing where a Judge will consider both the witness evidence and documentary evidence prior to making a decision.  Defended matters are not extremely common and it is hoped that pre-legal collections and the letter before claim will draw out any disputes or disagreements prior to Court action.

Stage 4 – Enforcement

When the judgment has been obtained by default you can then consider your enforcement options for the NHS debt recovery. Enforcement methods for NHS debt recovery include: taking control of goods, charging orders, insolvency proceedings, attachment of earnings and a third party debt order. More information on our debt recovery methods can be found here under enforcement.

We have the understanding and ability to handle the different types of debt in the sector such as:

• Private paying patients – with NHS bodies starting to collect on private revenue we are able to use our vast knowledge and experience to help collect outstanding debt for the private health sector. We also understand the delicacy in which these situations may need to be handled and always approach the situation with care to both our client and the patient
• Commercial debts and commercial rent arrears – commercial debts can often be relatively large and it is of vital importance to the needs of the NHS organisation that as much debt as possible is collected in as timely a manner as is possible. For commercial debtors, it may also be possible for Late Payment interest and debt recovery charges to be recovered from the debtor too.
• Overseas visitors – We have a wealth of experience when it comes to carrying out debt collection from overseas visitors. Debts remain active regardless of where a debtor has travelled or returned to, and we will work to ensure any money owed is repaid to the client.
• Salary overpayments – Whether they are a current or former employee, in the UK or elsewhere we work tirelessly to regain what is owed to an NHS Trust whether this relates to a final salary overpayment, recoupment of overpaid sick leave or holiday pay or loan monies in relation to specific schemes such as car rental, IT equipment or travel costs.
• Prescription debts – NHS patients have accumulated a debt of over £246 million in unpaid prescription penalties, by unlawfully claiming free prescriptions. If you find you have people who aren’t paying their prescription charges, we will help you regain what is rightfully yours.