(1) Where -
(a) injury to a person (in this section referred to as the injured person) has been caused by the negligent use in a public place of a mechanically propelled vehicle,
(b) the injury was sustained in such circumstances that the injured person is entitled, or (if he has died) was during his lifetime entitled, to recover damages in respect of the injury from some other person,
(c) the injured person received treatment in a hospital (other than a health institution within the meaning of the Health Act, 1947) in relation to the injury,
the governing body of the hospital shall be paid by such other person the amount (subject to the prescribed limits) of the cost of the treatment and of any detention in the hospital of the injured person, less any sums paid to them by or on behalf of the injured person in respect of such treatment or detention.
(2) Any sum falling to be paid pursuant to this section shall, in default of being paid, be recoverable as a simple contract debt in