Patients pursued in error for CUH bills

Hospital debt collectors are wrongly chasing medical card holders, people who failed to be seen by a doctor, and even the dead for emergency department fees.

HSE internal audit files seen by the Irish Examiner show the situation is occurring at Cork University Hospital despite clear rules stipulating who is exempt from the €100 attendance charge.

Documents released in recent days confirm that, like other hospitals, CUH is making upwards of €500,000 every year on emergency department attendance fees.