Footing the bill for accidents

The Times reported (October 24) that Road Accidents Cost Country €83m Last Year, adding that there were 16,000 road accidents, killing 14 people and costing society €83 million in damage, medical fees and loss of production.

Most of these injured patients are treated in government hospitals. Their treatment is highly complex and costly. These patients are, by law, all covered by motor vehicle insurance either as drivers or as third parties. The cost of this expensive treatment should not be borne by the NHS (not by the ordinary taxpayer) but the cost should be borne by the insurance of the individuals who are responsible for the accidents.

This would go a long way in starting to ensure that our health system is viable and that we have enough money to pay for new drugs and treatments.