Nearly half a million euro spent by local hospitals on debt collectors

It's emerged that local HSE-run hospitals spent over €450,000 on debt collectors over a decade to chase patients for unpaid bills.

The debt-collection figures, which cover 2013 to 2022, show the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar was the highest spender on such services locally, paying out over €265,000 over that time.

Portiuncula Hospital spent over €111,000 and Sligo University Hospital paid €66,000 plus for debt collection.

That was followed by Roscommon University Hospital, which shelled out over €14,000 in an attempt to recoup bills.

The figures were released by the HSE in a parliamentary response to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín.

Deputy Tóibín says there's enough stress on patients minus the debt collection: