How Debt Collection Agencies Are Helping To Recover NHS Debts
February 2017
In 2011 the UK Government made changes to immigration rules which meant that overseas visitors who fail to pay off debts for NHS treatment
are denied permission to either enter or stay in the UK. Under these rules those that are subject to immigration control who fail to settle a bill of
£1000 or more are not allowed to enter or remain in the UK until the debt is paid. We have a look at how debt collection agencies like ourselves
are helping the NHS recover unpaid debts.
Here at Alex M Adamson LLP we can support the NHS throughout the whole debt collection process from initial approach to litigation, if necessary.
Our web-based instruction and monitoring system, Web Minerva allows clients to load their own cases and an initial demand letter is produced and
sent within 24 hours. Our advanced recovery team is then on hand to ensure all additional contact information required is available as well as
conducting social media searches to find any extra useful details. Our workflow system supported by a reliable power dialler schedules outbound calls,
with high value cases additionally being contacted by our senior recovery staff. During this time if there has been no response to our initial letter
then a second demand is issued 7-10 days later which triggers further telephone, text and email contact. If the case has not been fully paid or an
instalment plan agreed within 30 days of the initial load we then work with the board to discuss how best to proceed.
Our systems ensure that NHS staff are involved at each stage in the recovery process. We’ve spent significant time with board staff to make sure they fully utilise the available functionality and as a result they have become more engaged, helping us deliver a successful service capable of handling volume and delivering a managed service for key debts.
Having worked with a Scottish board over the past two years our processes above have helped them recover 71% of their unpaid bills where as in other areas it has been reported than some boards are only managing to recoup 15% of unpaid sums.