The parents of a 4-year-old boy who is fighting life threatening cancer are being pursued by a debt collector on behalf of the HSE.

That’s according to campaign group ‘Our Children’s Health’ who say the mother contacted them for advice in desperation.

According to Kevin Shortall who works for the group, the child involved had a couple of different stays in a hospital. The family assumed that the because their son was diagnosed with cancer, they would receive a medical card. 

The family didn't have the money to pay the bill. The group have since heard that the bill was sent on to a third party debt collection agency.

"You have worries about bills, you have worries about your child and so on and suddenly you get a letter with a different name than the hospital and they say they're pursuing such an amount."

He also went on to state that the issues involving medical cards and the way they are processed has not changed: "You are measured on your means and nothing else."

"The HSE should be focusing on the very ill first."

Mr Shortall joined Jonathan Healy today to discuss the issue. Here is the full interview: