Hospitals treating Mid Ulster’s road accident victims paid £millions by insurers

The high cost reflects the grim toll of injuries sustained by motorists on local roads, which are among the most dangerous in Northern Ireland.

In fact, the death toll on local roads has risen in recent years, after years of decline.

Last year, the hard-pressed Northern Trust, which covers the Cookstown and Magherafelt Districts, generated £1.29m mostly from reclaiming the insurance companies’ cash.

Insurance companies already factor in potential NHS claims whenever they set their premiums.

The right to claim back the cost of treating road crash victims pre-dates even the NHS, however, excess red tape has hampered hospitals from recovering the money in the past.