Yet more crooks are getting away with fleecing the health service
as the Conservatives increasingly let them off the hook.
The Department of Health and Social Care’s Annual Accounts reveal
that the NHS lost an extra £54 million to fraud, bribery, and
corruption last year compared with 2019/20. Meanwhile the NHS
Counter Fraud Authority recovered just £75 million from fraud,
less than the £128 million recovered in 2019/20, and just half
its target of £149 million.
Examples of fraud that have been detected in recent years include
a criminal gang which successfully diverted payments of £1.2
million from separate NHS trusts, and a group which stole
£300,000 worth of medical supplies and then sold them back to the
health service. A dentist operating in Westminster made 378
fraudulent claims totalling £73,000 while working a two-day week
instead of the five-day week she claimed.
The news that less fraud is being prevented in the NHS follows
HMRC’s finding that £4.5 billion of Covid loans was lost to fraud
and error during the pandemic.
, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary,
said:
“The Conservative Government is letting fraudsters get away with
stealing public funds, and taxpayers are paying the price.
“If the Tories weren’t so relaxed about criminals walking off
with billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, they could afford to
train the doctors and nurses the NHS needs.
“Labour will set up an Office of Value for Money, to make sure
that every penny of taxpayers’ money is spent wisely.”
Ends
Notes
DHSC Annual Report and Accounts reveals that £1.198 billion of
the NHS budget was lost to fraud in 20/21, up £54 million from
19/20 (p184)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-to-2022
In a written parliamentary answer last year, Health Minister
MP revealed that the NHS has
lost £6.16 billion to fraud in the five years up to 19/20. Added
to this year’s figure, a total of £7.36 billion of NHS funds have
been lost to fraud in the past six years.
Written questions and answers -
Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
NHS Counter Fraud Authority recovered just £75 million from
fraud, down by more than half from the £128 million recovered in
2019/20, and half its target of £149 million.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1090603/nhscfa-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-2022-web-accessible.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1052568/nhscfa-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-2021-web-accessible.pdf
Criminal gang defrauded NHS trusts out of £1.2
million https://cfa.nhs.uk/about-nhscfa/latest-news/defrauded-NHS-trust-is-paid-back
Theft of medical supplies which were sold back to the NHS (page
44) NHSCFA Annual Report and
Accounts 2020-2021 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Part-time Westminster dentist defrauded the NHS out of £73,000
for 378 separate fraudulent claims.
Westminster dentist sentenced
for £74,000 NHS fraud | NHS Counter Fraud Authority | NHSCFA
