NHS fraudsters ‘risk their careers for a few pennies an hour’, warns hospital counterfraud expert

Sue Smith, the local counterfraud specialist for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

NHS fraudsters ‘risk their careers for a few pennies an hour’, warns hospital counterfraud expert

NHS staff who carry out frauds often put their careers at risk for very limited potential financial gains, according to a senior counterfraud expert.

Sue Smith, the local counterfraud specialist for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, issued her warning as part of Counterfraud Awareness Month, a national NHS Campaign which runs through October.

Ms Smith leads any fraud investigations at the hospitals run by the Trust, which includes Rochdale Infirmary.

As part of national Counterfraud Awareness Month, she has held a roadshow at the Infirmary, which attracted more than 200 patients and staff.

Ms Smith said: “Fraud drains much-needed funds from the NHS, and we take it very seriously. The vast majority of people who work in or use the NHS are honest. We need to remember that the NHS employs 1.3 million people, and this is only a problem in a handful of cases.

“What surprises me the most is how some staff can risk their careers for a sum which equates to less than a pound for each hour they have worked for the NHS. Yet that can mean a criminal record and cost that individual their career.

“Frauds can involve staff who have worked for us for years, but the typical sum involved is often in the mid-four figures. For example, if someone who had worked for us for four years defrauded the organisation of £5,000, then it would amount to a gain of just 69p an hour.

“The idea of committing a fraud wouldn’t cross the mind of 99.9 per cent of staff. However that’s what our awareness events are about – to remind that 0.1 per cent that we will catch them, and it will cost them much more than they would ever benefit, and all for the sake of a few pennies an hour.

“It’s not just about the conviction, the fine, the potential civil action and the disciplinary action. People lose friendships they have had for years, because their colleagues feel so betrayed. Quite simply, it’s not worth it.”

Anyone who suspects fraud against the NHS can report it on the confidential freephone hotline 0800 028 4060. All calls are dealt with by trained staff and professionally investigated.

Three of the most common frauds by NHS staff are working while off sick, making false claims on timesheets and making false CV claims.

All indications and allegations of fraud or corruption are professionally investigated in order to establish whether fraud or corruption has occurred. In 2007–2008 nationally, 351 cases of potential fraud were detected and investigated. The value of fraud and unlawful action identified was £4,166,921.

Since 1998, there have been 482 successful prosecutions nationally, with 57 of these brought in 2007–08. The NHS CFS achieved a 96% successful prosecution rate.

A total of 69 civil and disciplinary sanctions were applied nationally. A total of £6,046,917 was recovered by the NHS CFS. Since 1999, the NHS CFS has recovered £57,508,684.

Some patients commit fraud by actions such as wrongfully claiming exemptions from prescription fees or altering prescriptions.