Appeal to shop NHS fraudsters (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Appeal to shop NHS fraudsters

STAFF at Great Western Hospital are being told to shop colleagues they suspect of fraud.

October is National NHS Fraud Awareness Month and today a counter-fraud squad will be at the Swindon hospital to hammer home that message.

Chris Birdsall, spokesman for GHW, said fraudsters cheat sick patients and promised to prosecute offenders.

He said: "Fraud in the NHS costs the tax payer a considerable amount of money.

"And we seek to prevent people taking money away from patient care.

"Although we all know the vast majority of people who work in the NHS are completely honest, there are sadly a minority who take advantage of the trust placed in them and do attempt to defraud the health service.

"We fully support the counter fraud team in their work to clamp down on fraudsters."

Jim Gee, chief executive of the NHS Counter-Fraud Service, called for vigilance among staff.

He said: "After the success of previous fraud awareness months, we are showing how this awareness can have a direct impact on the resources that are available for patient care.

" Be vigilant and report your suspicions. You could help prevent the NHS losing money that is meant for patient care."

Debbie Lloyd, operational manager of the NHS CFS in Wiltshire and the south west added: "It is vitally important that local staff members and patients are aware of the role they play in countering fraud, and how seriously we take fraud against the NHS,

"It is frontline organisations and staff that can make the biggest difference in the fight against fraud."

The counter-fraud team plans to visit 200 hospitals in England and Wales.

In April, 22-year-old part-time nurse Natalie Harris, of Wroughton, escaped a prison sentence after admitting 14 counts of false accounting.

She asked for a further 27 similar matters be taken into consideration.

Harris now working as a hairdresser invented 41 shifts at GWH, pocketing almost £1,500.

Another nurse at GWH is accused of fiddling time sheets.

At a hearing in May, Leah Webb, 28, of Goddard Avenue, Old Town, pleaded not guilty to false accounting.

The offences are said to have taken place in a six-month period between January and June 2003.

The trial, which starts on November 21, is expected to last four days.

Webb remains on unconditional bail.

Kevin Shoesmith