§ Mr. Gerald BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has for the total medical and ambulance costs associated with treatment for victims of road accidents; how much is recouped from insurance companies to meet the cost of treating road accident victims; and what plans he has to put in hand arrangements to recover any shortfall.
§ Mr. DorrellInformation on the actual cost to the National Health Service in England of road accidents is not collected by the Department. However, the Department of Transport has estimated the medical and ambulance costs associated with the treatment of road accident victims in Great Britain at around £160 million in 1988.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 health authorities may levy an emergency treatment fee on the user of the vehicle involved in the accident. They may also raise charges for inpatient and outpatient treatment of road accident victims, subject to statutory maxima, against the owner of the vehicle or the authorised insurer. The total income collected by health authorities in England was £8.7 million in 1988–89. Details of the element recouped from insurance companies is not available.