Unpaid bill over 6 yrs old can they force payment

[Intrepid]

If someone received a bill for a private test done at an NHS hospital which was not correctly carried out despite prior phone calls and questions being asked and the bill was correctly disputed ....the NHS said they would investigate and respond but did not

can they suddenly over 6 yrs later start demanding and threatening action ....or do they have rules which allow them more than 6 yrs

[2222]

The debt still exists, but it may well be statute-barred for taking action to collect it. The result is that they may, perfectly reasonably, put you on a list of people they won't do future private work for.

Obviously, the NHS has certain obligations, and I think it is very unlikely they can turn you away if you're involved in a car accident. I doubt they can even deliberately assign you to be dealt with by the sadistic nurse with the freezing cold hands. (Sorry, but I can't resist my little jokes.)

However, they are probably perfectly within their rights to refuse to carry out any future private treatments or tests unless you pay this bill. That ban can be indefinite.

Consequently, it may be best to engage with them either to get this bill finally quashed or to agree some settlement figure.