The HSE owes the relatives of some of its dead patients €33 million - but they have to come forward to claim it. 

In total, €8.9 million was paid out in 2024 but some people never come forward to claim what they are owed. 

On Moncrieff, tax consultant and solicitor Mary Frances Fah said the HSE does not actively seek out relatives who are owed money. 

“The onus is on the next of kin to trace that money, locate that money,” she explained. 

“Therefore, it's very important I suppose if you're dealing with the estate of a deceased person and if you have any suspicions, or if they spent any time perhaps living in a HSE nursing home… that you would tell your solicitor to contact the HSE and see if there is any money there.” 

Ms Fah continued that the process is “not necessarily easy” and that, as with any State agency, there is a certain amount of bureaucracy involved. 

“It's like it's like other things,” she said. 

“Just as you would write to banks and on posts and credit unions, you just [write to] the HSE to see if there's any money there. 

“Then they should furnish you with a certificate of balance, then you have to go through the process of getting out the money that might be there.

“They’d definitely require their death certificate. 

“And if there's a will made they'd require a copy of the will as well.” 

A man holding a fistful of euro banknotes. Picture by: Axel Bueckert / Alamy Stock Photo.

However, unless you need the money urgently, there is no need to rush. 

“It's possible to get money out of dormant bank accounts,” Ms Fah said. 

“So, I would believe it to be the same with the HSE.”

Main image: An elderly pensioner holding leather wallet with euro bank notes. Picture by:Alamy.com.