§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions health authorities have received concerning to whom hospital bills may be sent following treatment for road traffic accident injuries.
§ Mr. John PattenSection 154 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 makes motor insurers liable in certain circumstances for costs, within defined statutory limits, incurred by288W health authorities in providing inpatient or outpatient treatment for people injured in road accidents. Section 155 of the Act makes the person using a motor vehicle liable to pay a fixed fee for emergency treatment which is required immediately for injuries arising from the use of that vehicle on a road. Guidance on the procedures for recovering those payments was given in Health Notice (80)7 issued by the Department to health authorities in 1980. Health authority treasurers have been reminded of this guidance, and in particular the fact that insurers rather than vehicle are liable for payments under section 154 of the Act, in a letter circulated by the Department on 26 March 1984.