Fraud against the NHS will not be tolerated – this is the message coming from our group’s Local Counter Fraud Specialists.

Fraud Awareness Month takes place this November and it coincides with International Fraud Awareness Week, running from 16 to 22 November.

We’re committed to making sure vital NHS funds are not lost to fraud and we’re reinforcing this message throughout November.

Daryl Cheetham, one of our Local Counter Fraud Specialists, will be hosting visiting our hospital sites during the month, and speaking to staff about the dangers of fraud.

Fraud against the NHS takes many guises including patients attempting to avoid paying prescription charges by falsely claiming exemptions or claiming for travelling expenses that they’re either not entitled to or haven’t incurred; staff may attempt to gain employment with false documentation or claim pay for shifts they did not work or work elsewhere while off sick from the Trust; and contractors may exaggerate or falsify records of NHS work or goods provided.

Daryl said: “I am responsible, along with my colleague Mark Bishop, for investigating allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption committed against our NHS trusts, as well as advising on counter-fraud measures staff can take in reducing the risk of fraud.

“This month is vital in continuing to raise awareness of fraud and steps you can take to prevent our NHS becoming a victim of crime. As fraud is a hidden crime and fraudsters will take steps to ensure they are not detected, it’s vital we all play our part in stopping much-needed funds from going into the hands of criminals, even if some of those criminals are sadly part of our own organisation.

“Fortunately, it’s only a small minority of staff who attempt to target taxpayer money in this way. With that said, whilst they may be small in number, their impact is large. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority estimates approximately £1.36 billion is vulnerable to these criminals. For context, that’s enough to pay for around 45,000 nurses.”

Staff and members of the public are encouraged to play their part in protecting NHS resources and report any suspicions of fraud. To report suspected fraud or corruption in our Trusts, you can email daryl.cheetham@nhs.net, mbishop@nhs.net or call the national NHS fraud and corruption reporting line on 0800 028 40 60.