Bailiffs have been called in to collect money from an NHS trust. City council officials resorted to the measure when the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust failed to pay �420,000 in business rates.
The trust owed rates on the Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary and a pub it bought to expand the LRI site.
A spokeswoman from the trust said the payment was late because of an administration error.
Procedures 'tightened'
She said: "When we realised the mistake, we paid the bill and apologised to the council.
"Since then we have tightened our procedures to make sure this never happens again."
Leicester City Council said the trust had been sent reminders and a court summons since the last payment in August 2005.
Council leader Roger Blackmore said: "We treat the trust in the same way we would treat any corner shop.
"It's important people know that we're an even handed administration and it doesn't matter who it is, we expect payment to be made on time."
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