This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Anti-fraud measures save NHS £18 million
17/08/2006
Anti-fraud measures since 2000 that have saved the NHS more than £18 million, including £7.4 million last year, were revealed in the latest annual report from NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS).
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"I am delighted to note that the cumulative savings since NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services was set up in July 2000 are now over £18 million.
"This is money which has gone into frontline patient care rather than being lost to fraud.
"CFS is not just a fraud investigation body. A major focus of its activities is the prevention and deterrence of fraud against the NHS in Scotland which costs far less than investigating it after it has occurred.
"We will continue to take action against fraudsters, but everyone can make a difference. NHS staff, healthcare professionals and the general public can protect our health service by reporting suspected fraud."
In one case investigated by CFS, a pharmacist claimed for payment from NHSScotland for drugs which had not been dispensed through the pharmacy he owned. He pled guilty at court to fraud and repaid his NHS Board £120,000 in respect of unlawful fees.
Last year, CFS also tested dental inlays for gold content, recovering £30,000 from nine dental practices across Scotland which had been claiming for treatment that failed to meet the required precious metal specifications.
Neil Billing, Head of CFS, said:
"The principal emphasis this year has been on a pro-active approach to deterring fraud and raising awareness of the issue within the service and beyond. This strategy has resulted in considerable savings being made. As always, this would not have been possible without the significant contribution of all our partners who work within the NHS in Scotland."
CFS was established on July 1, 2000, and is part of NHS National Services Scotland. Its initial remit was to prevent, detect and investigate fraud and other irregularities against NHS family health services in Scotland. The CFS's role was extended in 2004 to cover all of the NHS in Scotland. The savings of £18 million are the gross cumulative savings to the NHS since 2000.
The CFS has a Freephone Fraud Hotline 08000 15 16 28 and a website which NHS staff or anyone else can use to report potential cases of fraud. Cases can be reported anonymously if the person feels uncomfortable giving his or her name and details. All cases are investigated objectively by fully trained and accredited CFS fraud investigators.
www.cfs.scot.nhs.uk