The story below both amused me and made me despair as a former accountant!
As some of you may know I had my first appointment with an EP at Papworth privately late in August. On arrival, I had to fill in a few forms and make a payment there and then for his fee and a ECG. Amount was £275 Consultant and £82 for ECG. Paid by card at private patients reception and told an invoice acknowledging payment would be sent later.
Wednesday I receive a invoice from Papworth Hospital NHS FT, Wakefield demanding £275 for consultation, payment must be within 14 days. Phone call made, invoice no given, I told him I had paid on the date of appointment, exactly who I paid, the date and time of transaction and that it also included £82 for ECG total payment £375. The operator had the invoice up on his screen and said yes he could see that.
This morming I get another invoice clearing consultants payment but now asking for £82 in 14 days for payment of ECG!!!!!! What a cock up and waste of time and money, another phone call to be made on Monday.
If their simple accounts can make such silly mistakes goodness knows what the large financial accounting departments of the NHS are like.
Accountants hat gone back in cupboard now!
Cassie